Behind every great home, there is a story. The story of Carlton International begins in London, goes through a crisis that could have brought everything to an end, and finds its conclusion on the French Riviera — where, for more than thirty years, the agency has established itself as one of the leading names in luxury real estate on the French Riviera.
For Forbes’ “Successful Companies” program, Philip Weiser, founder and CEO of Carlton International Group, spoke with journalist Jessie Claire in an exclusive interview filmed at the Peninsula Paris. A rare conversation combining the company’s founding story, a vision of luxury, and the deep conviction that excellence is a daily discipline.
Here is what this conversation reveals about one of the French Riviera’s most discreet and admired real estate agencies.
Philip Weiser, founder and CEO of Carlton International, interviewed by Forbes for the “Successful Companies” program — at the Peninsula Paris.
From New Zealand to the French Riviera: The Journey of an Unconventional Founder
Philip Weiser does not fit the traditional image of a luxury real estate agency executive. Originally from New Zealand and educated at the École hôtelière de Lausanne — one of the world’s most renowned institutions for training in service excellence — he began his career in the international hospitality industry. Appointed Marketing Director of a major London hotel group, he worked alongside some of the world’s finest establishments and developed a conviction that would stay with him throughout his career: true luxury is about service, not status.
In London, he founded his first company, specializing in the rental of high-end furnished apartments with hotel-style services — a premium alternative to traditional hospitality that was ahead of its time. The business enjoyed considerable success. Drawing on this experience, Philip Weiser chose to settle in the south of France and entered the luxury real estate sector on the French Riviera, initially joining a property development and real estate transactions company as an executive.
But success can be fragile. In the early 1990s, the Gulf War triggered a severe economic crisis that brought his thriving real estate company to its knees. After several years of living very modestly — an experience he discusses with remarkable candor in the Forbes interview — he managed to rebuild a business from the ashes. In 1995, Carlton International was born. Not as a simple restart, but as a foundation — stronger, more conscious, and driven by a more mature vision of what luxury real estate should truly represent.
1995: The Birth of a Vision, “Fidus et Audax”
Carlton International was founded in 1995 with a clear ambition: to transform the traditional vision of luxury real estate on the French Riviera. Where other agencies sell properties, Carlton International is committed to building relationships — long-lasting, discreet, and founded on trust. The motto chosen by Philip Weiser to embody this philosophy is in Latin: “Fidus et Audax,” meaning “Faithful and Bold.” Two words that sum up thirty years of a company whose reputation has been built as much on discretion as on ambition.
Faithful, because every client is treated as a valued guest, with the same level of attention and consideration, whether they are looking for a €2 million apartment or a €20 million estate. Bold, because Carlton International has never been afraid to open new offices, explore new markets, or introduce new services before they became established within the industry. This duality — the strength of a solid foundation combined with the freedom to innovate — is the driving force behind the group’s journey.
From its earliest years, the agency distinguished itself through its international positioning. While local agencies initially focused primarily on French clients, Carlton International viewed its clientele as global by nature: British, American, Scandinavian, Middle Eastern, and Asian clients — all these profiles were part of Philip Weiser’s commercial vision from the very beginning. This anticipation of the globalization of the luxury market largely explains the agency’s long-term success.
Forbes at the Peninsula: When an Interview Reveals a Philosophy
The choice of the Peninsula Paris as the setting for the Forbes interview is no coincidence. One of the capital’s most discreet luxury hotels, located on Rue Kléber, embodies exactly the values Philip Weiser has sought to instill in Carlton International since its beginnings: excellence in service, absolute discretion, and attention to the smallest detail. Speaking with journalist Jessie Claire for the “Successful Companies” program, he talks about his group with the candor and passion of someone who has built everything with his own hands.
In this interview — which we invite you to watch in full above — Philip Weiser addresses the questions at the heart of his identity as an entrepreneur: How do you bounce back from failure? What distinguishes a good real estate agency from a truly great company? How do you maintain a culture of excellence within a growing organization? His answers reveal a leader grounded in reality, who neither idealizes his journey nor shies away from it, but instead draws clear and valuable lessons from his experiences.
The Forbes interview also offers an insight into what drives the Carlton International teams every day: integrity, excellence, and perseverance are the three values he identifies, in that order. Not as a communications slogan, but as operational principles that guide every decision, every recruitment, and every choice of property to include in the portfolio. “In any business, great success can sometimes be followed by a massive loss. What matters is what you do next,” he shares.
The Carlton Group Today: An Ecosystem of Excellence
Over thirty years, what Philip Weiser founded has grown into much more than a real estate agency. Today, the Carlton Group brings together several complementary entities, each addressing a specific aspect of the high-end real estate experience. Carlton International forms the historic core of the group, specializing in the sale and acquisition of prestigious properties on the French Riviera and internationally. Carlton International’s rental division — headed by Alexandra Venard — manages both seasonal and long-term rentals, offering a selection of villas, apartments, and chalets spanning the Riviera and the Alps, as well as carefully selected international destinations.
Carlton Signature takes the level of service even further, offering an ultra-personalized experience for the most discerning clients. Riviera Lifestyle completes the ecosystem with a magazine and editorial platform dedicated to the art of living on the French Riviera. Finally, Carlton HotelBrokers extends the group’s expertise to hotel transactions — a market segment where Carlton holds a unique position at the intersection of luxury real estate and high-end hospitality.
Today, this multi-entity group covers the entire French Riviera — from Saint-Tropez to Monaco — with offices in Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Valbonne, Nice, and Monaco. Beyond France, Carlton International has a presence in Alsace, Germany, Portugal — with an office in Cascais — and Spain through the Costa del Sol. The group is a member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and a founding member of the International Association of Luxury Real Estate Agents.
The Numbers Behind the Success
More than 30 years in business, over 25 real estate experts across more than ten offices, thousands of clients assisted since its foundation — including investors, families, celebrities, and entrepreneurs — transactions completed in more than 70 countries, and a presence in global luxury real estate rankings. Carlton International is not simply an agency that has stood the test of time: it is a company that has grown while remaining true to its identity — perhaps the rarest form of success in such a competitive industry.
The Carlton DNA: What Turns a Transaction into a Relationship
What sets Carlton International apart from its competitors cannot be reduced to the quality of its portfolio or the reach of its network. It is a culture — passed down by Philip Weiser since the group’s beginnings and embodied every day by each member of the team. A culture founded on the belief that luxury real estate is not a product industry, but a relationship industry: you are not simply selling a villa; you are accompanying a family through one of the most important decisions of their lives.
This philosophy is reflected in the way Carlton International approaches every property mandate. Each property is selected according to strict criteria: architectural quality, location, investment potential, and alignment with the expectations of a highly discerning international clientele. Mediocre properties are never listed, regardless of commercial pressure. This selectivity protects the agency’s reputation and ensures that every tenant or buyer receives an experience that lives up to their expectations.
Discretion is another fundamental pillar. On the French Riviera, a significant proportion of the most important transactions take place off-market — never publicly advertised, but presented directly by Carlton International to qualified clients within its network. The ability to operate with complete confidentiality is a mark of trust that the most discerning clients — often public figures or families seeking to protect their privacy — place in the agency after years of relationship-building.
