Pauline Cyrus
"Ready?" says Pauline Cyrus, adjusting a bright wool scarf over her trench coat. We are off for an afternoon in the countryside around Cognac to visit a family-run distillery, a century-old maker of organic beauty products, and the only producer of artisanal balsamic vinegar in France. All in a day's work for Pauline, the assistant front office manager at the Hôtel Chais Monnet in Cognac, whose portfolio of responsibilities includes finding and organizing authentic experiences to introduce guests to the region. As she settles into one of the hotel's vintage cars, a Citroen 2CV, for the ride, Pauline checks the route on her cellphone and smiles. "I love my job," she says.