Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from César Ritz

César Ritz, the Swiss hotelier whose name is now synonymous with the gold standard of luxury, transformed the world of hospitality with unwavering vision, innovation, and an obsession with excellence. Arriving in Paris with little to his name, Ritz rewrote the rules of service, comfort, and glamour, showing that true leadership means anticipating needs, empowering teams, and creating environments where everyone feels valued and inspired. His story reveals that anyone can shape their destiny—not by following the crowd, but by daring to serve with distinction and rewrite what’s possible.
On this walking tour, you’ll journey through Ritz’s Paris, exploring the places that shaped his legend and reflecting on your own leadership. Using the hero’s journey and the 12 archetypes, you’ll see how Ritz authored the story of his life—and how you can become the storyteller of your own.

Timeline: Ritz’s Hero’s Journey in Paris

Time	Hero’s Journey Stage / Archetype	Location	Focus
09:00	Ordinary World / The Innocent	Gare de Lyon (symbol of arrival in Paris)	Beginnings, ambition, new horizons
10:00	The Call to Adventure / The Explorer	Place Vendôme (location scouting, vision for the Ritz Hotel)	Daring to dream, pursuit of opportunity
11:00	Meeting the Mentor / The Sage	Café de la Paix (networking, inspiration)	Seeking guidance, learning from others
13:00	Tests, Allies & Enemies / The Caregiver	Hôtel Ritz Paris (flagship legacy)	Building excellence, resilience, leadership
15:00	Return with the Elixir / The Creator	Jardin des Tuileries (reflection, impact)	Legacy, influence, storytelling

The Walking Tour

09:00 – Gare de Lyon (The Ordinary World / The Innocent)

Ritz’s arrival in Paris marked the beginning of his legend. Young and ambitious, he carried nothing but a vision and work ethic.

Reflection:

• What humble beginnings fueled your big dreams?
• How do you hold onto curiosity and optimism through transitions?

Inspiration from Ritz:
Ritz’s journey started with bold steps in an unfamiliar world.
Question: What is your next bold beginning?

10:00 – Place Vendôme (The Call to Adventure / The Explorer)

Ritz saw what others could not: a future palace of hospitality. Here, he dared to imagine the Ritz Hotel—a hotel like no other.

Reflection:

• When did you first see a possibility no one else noticed?
• Are you listening to your own call to adventure right now?

Inspiration from Ritz:
True leaders see beyond the ordinary and act on their vision.
Question: What bold idea are you ready to bring into reality?

11:00 – Café de la Paix (Meeting the Mentor / The Sage)

A favorite spot for artists, thinkers, and entrepreneurs—including Ritz—seeking inspiration and connection.

Reflection:

• Who do you turn to for wisdom and perspective?
• How do you create space for learning and growth?

Inspiration from Ritz:
Ritz absorbed ideas from the best, then elevated them through personal flair.
Question: Who inspires you to refine your vision?

13:00 – Hôtel Ritz Paris (Tests, Allies & Enemies / The Caregiver)

Here Ritz built more than a hotel: he built a standard of care, perfection, and empowerment, facing obstacles and critics with determination.

Reflection:

• Where have you encountered setbacks while building something new?
• Who are your strongest allies, and how do you nurture your team’s gifts?

Inspiration from Ritz:
The greatest leaders obsess over both detail and dignity, serving others while pursuing excellence.
Question: What does true excellence look like in your leadership?

15:00 – Jardin des Tuileries (Return with the Elixir / The Creator)

In this elegant garden Ritz often walked, strategized, and reflected on his impact.

Reflection:

• How do you make time to reflect on your journey?
• What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

Inspiration from Ritz:
Ritz didn’t just build a hotel—he redefined what was possible for himself and for all who followed.
Question: What story will people tell about your leadership? What legend are you crafting?

Conclusion: Lessons from Ritz’s Hero’s Journey

Ritz’s path was shaped by vision, perseverance, and the courage to challenge convention. By telling himself a story of possibility and distinction, he found meaning and flow, inspiring his teams and setting new standards. His story teaches us that every leader can be the author of their own legend—with each risk, failure, and triumph sculpting the narrative.

Final Reflections:

• Where are you on your own hero’s journey: just arrived, mid-challenge, or reflecting on your legacy?
• What story are you choosing to tell yourself as a leader?
• How will you make your everyday actions worthy of legendary hospitality and impact?

Your legend is not destiny—it’s design. Begin crafting it today, the Ritz way.

Tour Details:

• Duration: 1 day
• Start Time: 09:00 AM
• End Time: 05:00 PM
• Cost: € 595 per person excluding VAT per person

You can book this tour by sending Peter an email with details at peter@wearesomeone.nl

Your Tour Guide

Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project,  a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.

Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing,  MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.