Sylvie Quintin, Director of Human Resources at The Peninsula Paris, talks with Hosco about heading up the HR side of the brand’s European debut, and about what it was like to build a 600-member team from scratch during the hotel’s pre-opening phase. What Quintin appreciated most about the process was the challenge of opening a hotel whose brand was not yet established in Europe or in France—a “truly blank page,” as she calls it. Relying on social media, job fairs, and, later, word of mouth to find the best candidates available, Quintin and her team organized a “mass recruitment” for the property, hiring over 500 staff in less than two months.

With over 16 years of experience as a Director of Human Resources in the Paris region, Quintin was the perfect candidate to advise her superiors in Hong Kong on the ins and outs of doing business in France, from social legislation to the local competition. To hear about The Peninsula’s unique human resources philosophy, as well as a description of the brand’s ideal candidate profile, watch the video!