Hôtel du Jeu de Paume, Paris: How increased guest safety has brought more and happier customers
“We’ve had bed bugs twice. It was a nightmare. We regret Valpas didn’t exist before because when the problem arises, it’s very difficult to solve it. The costs are high, and the customer’s trust is lost. Since we’ve had Valpas, no one has doubted us. Security is guaranteed, and customers have increased.”
At 54 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, between the two branches of the Seine, nestles the four-star Hôtel du Jeu de Paume. The hotel lies behind a discreet porch at the end of a paved courtyard where, three centuries ago, the sounds of racket-sport enthusiasts once echoed.
“Every hotel can benefit from Valpas. For us, it was a necessity as bed bugs were carried into the hotel. Knowing that they can arrive with any guest, I strongly recommend hoteliers to invest in it. It’s also a great deal considering the incredible value it brings to the hotel as well as augmenting the quality of our service, which stands at the highest level of health standards and innovation,” Nathalie explains.
Making guest safety a permanent standard
By becoming Valpas-certified bed bug-safe, Hôtel du Jeu de Paume chose to address guest safety not as a one-time fix, but as a permanent standard. For a Parisian hotel where most guests stay three to four nights, speed, reliability, and consistency matter.
Rather than relying on reactive pest control, Valpas certification allows hotels to protect guests and rooms without toxic chemicals, while maintaining day-to-day operations uninterrupted.
“We believe in combatting climate change, and Valpas reduces the use of fossil fuels by basing its method and success on pure green technology. In an era where everybody should take action and responsibility, this was a decisional factor for us because we also wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem. According to the Paris Accord, we need to reduce greenhouse emissions at least 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels,” Nathalie says.
The Valpas label on the hotel website makes this commitment visible to guests before they even arrive.
Sustainability without pesticides
“Pesticides normally used for pest control have a high emission footprint because they’re made of fossil fuels and emit toxins that trap hundreds of times more heat in the atmosphere than CO₂. Valpas ensures your rooms don’t need pesticides. This reduces the hotel’s total emissions,” Nathalie adds.
She also highlights how important it is for the hotel to maintain its garden with plants, flowers, and trees, reinforcing the hotel’s broader commitment to environmental responsibility.
Valpas, superheroes against bed bugs for the peace of mind of every traveler and the hotel
Valpas eliminates the bed bugs that guests may carry into the room with them, allowing guests to return home safely and prevent an infestation in the hotel. It is a “win-win” situation for everyone.
“After the pandemic, more and more travelers are concerned about safety and cleanliness measures. They ask about Valpas because they see the Valpas logo on the hotel website and the travel platform, valpashotels.com, for safe member hotels. They feel safer,” Nathalie says.
For her, it was a fantastic experience to have the Valpas team at the hotel.
“They’re the ‘superheroes’ against bed bugs. They changed all the bed legs, worked quickly and cleanly, installed software, and demonstrated simply and clearly to the team how to use it. Within a couple of days, any future bed bug problems are resolved! We’re very pleased with their service and are one of the many 100% satisfied clients,” she says.
Turning safety into a competitive advantage
Since becoming Valpas-certified in 2019, Hôtel du Jeu de Paume has attracted new guests and strengthened trust with existing ones. Safety is no longer a hidden operational topic, but a visible part of the hotel’s promise.
“Our hotel philosophy is to attract artistic and creative people from around the world,” Nathalie says. “We wanted to be a place where people could feel welcomed by warm French hospitality and feel completely safe away from home. Valpas was a priority.”
Guest reviews increasingly reflect this sense of comfort and confidence.
Old and new, history and innovation
The Hôtel du Jeu de Paume owes its name to the seventeenth-century royal tennis court that once stood on the site. Built in 1634 and later transformed into business premises, the building was reimagined as a hotel in 1987 while preserving its historic beams and stonework.
Today, the hotel blends its revolutionary spirit with a forward-looking approach to hospitality, pairing history, design, and modern guest expectations.
Family, spirit, vocation. The same philosophy as the Valpas community
Nathalie’s family came to the hotelier profession out of love. “Our concept is to have a family spirit in the building where new and old guests are welcomed like friends. My mother and stepfather started furnishing the hotel and visited flea markets to discover something special and unique. Valpas is also part of this community of travelers that prioritizes safety and cleanness but also the quality and exclusivity of the product and the concept of a good life with a strong work ethic,” she says.
If the Hotel Jeu de Paume is unique, it is because it is managed by a family who came
into the hotel profession out of love for a building they wanted to share with and have
their guests enjoy. The warm atmosphere and friendly welcome make you almost forget you are in a hotel. A thirteen-strong team that has all been with the hotel for more than ten years welcomes clients like old friends. Guests also appreciate the numerous services provided by the concierge and never forget to say hello to Lemon, the hotel’s canine resident.
“My favorite rooms?” Nathalie says. “The room with the terrace and the rooms facing the garden. The rooms are all different. It’s difficult to sell them online without explaining them on the website. Every room also has a story. For example, a famous university professor has always chosen Room 007. When he calls, he says, ‘I’m Bond, James Bond. I want my room’.”
For Nathalie, the secret to being a great hotelier is simple
The Hôtel Jeu de Paume is located on the only street that runs along the entire length of the Ile St-Louis in the heart of Paris.
“I still hear people from this area say, ‘Today, I have to go to Paris!’ People live here as though it’s still a small village, and they consider the bridge the only connection to the city. In the past, everybody knew each other. That’s changed somewhat, but it’s still a very special place!” Nathalie says.
“We’re close to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Marias district, and the Musée d’Orsay. My favorite places are L’Atelier des Lumières, the Foundation Louis Vuitton, and the restaurant Le Fous de L’ile, which is on the island and has a great French atmosphere.”
Nathalie has an unconventional approach to her guests.
“I like to have curious people as guests, people who enjoy conversations with me and our team. I’m Parisian. I love learning about other cultures. I believe that if you want to be a good hotelier, you must like people. For me, the first priority is not only making money but achieving personal success. Therefore, it’s all about communication, exchange, discussion, and explaining my city to my guests and discovering something about them too.”