GRANDE DAME ’ S
MORE FUNCTION ,
LESS THEORY
TRENDING
GRANDE DAME ’ S
FRESH LOOK
The Strand ' s lobby
A colonial-era gem in Myanmar , The Strand Yangon , reopened late last year after a renovation that restored teak paneling , lacquer ware and marble floors . Vintage-inspired textiles and original artwork were added to the 1901 landmark ’ s 31 rooms . The bar , which in its heyday hosted luminaries such as Noel Coward , Orson Welles and Rudyard Kipling , has been given a more club-like atmosphere and renamed The Sarkies Bar in honor of its founding family .
MORE FUNCTION ,
LESS THEORY
What does a hotel company have to do to connect with the younger generation ? AccorHotels is giving them a seat in the boardroom .
To integrate younger managers ’ perspectives into strategic objectives , a shadow board comprising 13 managers was formed , explains Arantxa Balson , director of talent and culture . “ Extremely young and digital natives ,” they are all under age 35 and diverse in background , geography and expertise : half men , half women , including a GM in Paris , a CFO in the Middle East , an F & B director in Bangkok , a legal coordinator in Latin America and a corporate director in North America , among others , serving 18-month stints ( their names are not publicized , to minimize distraction and poaching ). Required to collaborate , they are assigned disruptive and innovative projects , including some work on the new , blended co-living Jo & Joe brand .
Soon , they were comfortable enough to change the rules . One project ’ s revenue goals were thrown out to focus instead on customer wants , based on the team ’ s own perspective . “ We knew that the way they would approach the issues that we work on every day is going to be different from us ,” Balson says , referring to the executive committee , of which she is a member .
The shadow board meets regularly in person and with the executive committee . “ In the beginning they were a bit impressed , a bit shy ,” Balson says . Now , “ they express their disagreement .” And , she adds , “ It ’ s really pushing the current ( executive committee ), the big guys , us , to learn how to question and how to challenge .”
And they are dislodging traditional approaches . “ The problem is that the market is not traditional anymore . We cannot just stay behind the wall just because there is still potential in the traditional business .” “ You need to empower people to take the best solution in front of a customer ,” Balson adds . “ And for that you need to transform your culture deeply .”
12 hotelsmag . com March 2017