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Inside the luxury Paris hotel graced by Nine’s top brass for Olympic Games despite strike action woes

Headshot of Remy Varga
Remy Varga
The Nightly
Tensions are boiling over after Nine boss Mike Sneesby carried the Olympic torch throughout negotiations.

Nine was quoted $1.2 million for its executive leadership and star talent to stay at a luxury hotel in Paris that leaked internal documents describe as “similar to Paddington”.

The corporate largesse comes as rolling strike action over job cuts jeopardizes the media company’s coverage of the Paris Olympics, with unionised staff and reporters refusing to cover the international sporting events.

Leaked internal documents reveal Nine considered a number of up-market hotels for its senior leadership and talent to stay in 20 rooms, including Le Pavillion de la Reine where chief executive officer Mike Sneesby is staying over the course of the Olympics at a quoted cost of up to $2,500 a night.

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The “Parisian classic” hotel is described as an “elegant location with discreet luxury (think Paddington)” that has “excellent service, good size rooms, spa, gym. Beautiful indoor and outdoor courtyard. Great restaurants and shopping within walking distance.”

Inside the hotel where Nine's senior leadership is staying.
Inside the hotel where Nine's senior leadership is staying. Credit: The Nightly/The Nightly

“Established in the Place des Vosges, both one of the most famous and most historical districts of Paris, the Pavilion de la Reine perpetuates an elegant atmosphere combined with discreet luxury to attract the most stylish globetrotters in the world in their quest for a quiet and discreet place to relax,” said the planning documents.

The documents state that Le Pavilion is the “preferred hotel” and that the 2,420 square foot spa includes “two treatment booths, a gym and a jacuzzi as well as a steam bath”.

Inside the hotel where Nine's senior leadership is staying.
Inside the hotel where Nine's senior leadership is staying. Credit: The Nightly/The Nightly
Inside the hotel where Nine's senior leadership is staying.
Inside the hotel where Nine's senior leadership is staying. Credit: The Nightly/The Nightly

The revelations come amid reports Nine journalists sent to Paris to cover the Olympics are dissatisfied with their accommodation, which includes a hotel above a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in the 13th Arrondissement.

Nine is bracing for a brutal round of redundancies after announcing in June it would lay off up to 200 employees, including 90 from the publishing decision.

The network’s decision to push ahead with its coverage of the Paris Olympics, which it spent $100m securing, has sparked outrage internally as has Mr Sneesby’s decision to take part in the Olympic torch relay.

Mr Sneesby told 7NEWS last week that he was meeting his family after he was approached by a reporter in Paris near the Le Pavilion.

Jasmine Stefanovic, the wife of Nine star Karl Stefanovic, posted a photo to Instagram of her and her husband in front of the Eiffel Tower with the caption “La Girafe with you. Thank you Channel 9 for a beautiful dinner”.

La Girafe is a gourmet seafood restaurant with views of the Eiffel Tower in the Palais de Chaillot.

Nine management are due to meet with unionised staff on Wednesday. Some staff, including foreign correspondents, are exempt from the industrial action.

The Nightly approached Nine for comment.

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