Q4 : You have recently been appointed UK Managing Director for Vendôm , can you explain a bit more about Vendôm and your goals for the company in the UK .
Q4 : Of course ; Vendôm was founded in 2015 by Laetitia Girard . We are an international network dedicated to putting the human connection back to the heart of recruitment in the luxury hospitality sector . We envision ourselves to be talent incubators for the luxury world and our mission is to be able to select and coach the best luxury talents to enable them to work with the best luxury recruiters .
The idea came to Laetitia after observing and concluding the following : talent in the luxury sectors are scarce ; it is a huge on-going challenge . The codes the luxury sector follows , are now followed globally and for luxury brands and professions to be able to sustain themselves and their high quality of service , they must employ virtuous values and meaning in their work , and their human capital should be their first priority .
My past experience is a great fit with Vendôm , which currently has over 16,500 members and 300 recruiters across the globe . The central office of Vendôm is in France , so I ’ m thrilled to be leading the expansion into the UK . We are already working with some fantastic British brands , such as Sofitel St . James London and The Royal Savoy London , and I ’ m looking forward to help expand the brand even further through events such as EXCELLENCE , the world ’ s first virtual luxury recruitment fair dedicated to the luxury & hospitality sectors , that we will be hosting on a bespoke app this October .
Q5 : Could you give an insight into how Vendôm choses its partners , I hear Bulgari London and The Dorchester Collection have joined ?
A5 : The selection is made in an organic way because our playground is the world of luxury and haute cuisine in general . Our one criteria is that our partners should share our values and vice versa .
Q6 : With human connection at its core , how has Vendôm adapted to the past year of uncertainty , and what ’ s next for the brand ?
A6 : It ’ s been a tough year for recruitment , especially in hospitality , so , as I mentioned , we will be launching EXCELLENCE , a pioneering three day event ( 7th-9th October ), which will be held on a bespoke app , designed especially for the event . Truly cutting-edge , the event will be the first of its kind , open to everyone across the world interested in the luxury hospitality sector . Attendees will have the opportunity to attend conferences by world-leaders in the sector , join workshops , and even have one-to-ones with the brands . So far , we have a staggering 70 brands confirmed , from our sponsor Audemars Piguet , to Clarins , LVMH Zenith and Aman Resorts . Each is a true leader in luxury , so we ’ re really looking forward to providing the hospitality industry a way to get back to recruiting , in a way that we hope will allow human connection to really shine forth at the centre . EXCELLENCE will cost just € 30 to join , for all three days , to ensure it is accessible to those at all points in their careers – all we ask is enthusiasm for luxury !
The Gentleman Magazine | 87