AccorHotels introduced its millennial-focused “shadow board” and now comes word that Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has recruited a team of Generation Y employees and entrepreneurs to closely collaborate with the hospitality firm’s executive team as it looks to glean fresh ideas on how to attract millennial guests and talent.
The company has hand-picked an ExCom–Y Committee – a team of 10 millennials, six of whom are from across the company and the remaining four are young business leaders brought in from locations across the globe to provide a balanced and international perspective. The committee will be called on around five times a year to attend and contribute to executive meetings in various geographical locations.
They include Jessica Houlgrave, who spent six years working for leading global financial institutions and is now researching the impact of technology on the art ecosystem as part of an Art Business Master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She is also a competitive sailor and a passionate global traveller.
Houlgrave is joined on the committee by a group of entrepreneurs and business executives from countries including Germany, France and the U.S., who are proficient in several disciplines such as technology, hospitality and pharmaceuticals.
They will work alongside a group of Mövenpick Millennials who have been selected from hotels in Dubai, Pattaya, Karachi and Switzerland. They, too, represent several nationalities and areas of expertise including front office, digital content and strategy, sales, marketing, F&B and brand and quality assurance.
“As we embark on an unprecedented growth phase, expanding our portfolio at a rapid rate, it’s paramount we seek input and insights from our colleagues, particularly our young talent, who possess an intimate understanding of Generation Y trends,” said Craig Cochrane, the company’s senior vice president of human resources. “As millennials become a more influential demographic and contribute significantly to our overall guest profile, it is imperative we incorporate their needs and wishes into our hospitality offering.”
Mövenpick has already had some success attracting millennials who account for more than 30% of its guest total.