At a time when the words ‘hospitality’ and ‘technology’ are rarely seen apart, The Dorchester Collection is happy to swim against the current by keeping the human touch front and center.
“We have all these companies around us trying to push us into the digital world. ‘Why don’t you have an app?’; ‘Why don’t you have a new property management system?’ And so on,” says Victoria Monterrubio, People Development Specialist.
We believe that people should be at the center of what we do, with technology the support and not the main aim.
A distinctive hotel collection
Though it takes its name from London’s iconic hotel The Dorchester, the company has eight other super-luxury hotels in Europe and America within its portfolio. These include the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Le Meurice in Paris, Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan and Hotel Eden in Rome.
Victoria explains, “Each hotel has a different personality. If you go to Hôtel Plaza Athénée, for example, you have a really strong feeling of couture and fashion. Go down the street to Le Meurice and it’s a completely different atmosphere, much more artistic. Our mission is to be treasured by guests, cherished by employees and celebrated worldwide.”
Rome’s Hotel Eden has a special connection with Les Roches. Its General Manager, Luca Virgilio, is a Les Roches alumnus. “It’s really good to have someone from Les Roches being so successful inside our company,” says Victoria.
On the hunt for young and motivated talents
Dorchester Collection visits Les Roches to recruit for both internship and MiT (Manager in Training) positions.
“We come to Les Roches to recruit talent because we are always seeking young and motivated people,” says Victoria. “What we are really looking for are strong personalities. All our hotels are quite unique, so we need unique people to fill roles within them. For this I think Les Roches is really good. The students come to us with smiles on their faces, very ambitious and with lots of ideas about what they want to do and where they want their careers to take them.”
And what advice does Victoria have for potential Dorchester Collection recruits? “Do your research – what you would like to do as well as what you don’t like. Come prepared when you talk to companies like ours, in particular about your goals. Also be prepared to explain the ‘why’. Why do you want to get into rooms division? Or F&B? What are your drivers?
The more you are able to define yourself, the more we can help you to find the right position to allow you to reach your goals.
Thank you to Victoria for taking the time to share her recruitment insights with us.
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