Can you feel an unstoppable surge of inspiration? We want you to bottle up this feeling and remember it for those double shifts, demanding guests, and last-minute group check-ins. Here at Hosco, we know that our industry can be demanding, that’s why we’ve created something to remind you how spectacular and fascinating a career in hospitality can be.

So, over the last 18 months, we’ve been on a journey around the world to interview hospitality leaders that have overcome setbacks and worked tirelessly to reach the very top of their professions. The end result is a magical feast of captivating, engaging, and motivating interviews that we’re going to very proudly share with the world. The trailer above is just an appetizer of what’s to come in the following seasons!

Paul Dubrule, Co-founder of Accor

"I said to the staff, the guest is right. But, you have the possibility, once a year, to kick the ass of one guest, but no more than one."

In 1909, the phrase “the customer is always right” was first coined. However, today’s robot receptionists would argue that hospitality has slightly changed since then. So, is this phrase still relevant? Paul Dubrule seems to think that it is, but to a certain extent. Being one of the two masterminds behind Accor, the 6th largest hotel chain on earth, definitely allows him to get away with this cheeky piece of advice. Dubrule also understands the customer more than most as he has interacted with countless guests since opening his first hotel in 1967. He describes opening that 62-room Novotel in Lille, France, as being “the best moment of his career.” Fast forward 52 years and Accor now has 4,300 hotels and over 620,000 rooms worldwide. It’s uplifting to think of how Paul Dubrule started his career in the basement of a bank and went on to transform a simple idea into a hospitality empire.

Kike Sarasola, Founder of Room Mate Hotels

"When they tell you that everything’s invented, don’t believe it."

What do you do when one day you’re at the pinnacle of your profession and the next you have to retire forever? You do what Kike Sarasola did, invent something bold, fresh, and disruptive, like Room Mate Hotels! Kike Sarasola was four-time equestrian champion of Spain and competed for his country at the Olympics. However, after a tragic fall from his horse in 2004, he had to retire from the sport he adored. Just one year later, Sarasola had applied his athletic determination and success to the hospitality industry and opened the Room Mate Mario in Madrid. Since then, he has opened another 22 boutique hotels across the world and has plans for several more in the near future. It’s important to bear in mind that Sarasola has created this leading boutique brand without any previous hospitality experience or education. He demonstrates that with the right mindset and good work ethic that there's always room to create something new and big in our industry.

Anne-Sophie Pic, 3-Michelin Star Chef

"What drives me is to keep pushing boundaries. I tell myself, I can go further."

In 1995, Maison Pic restaurant lost it’s third Michelin Star. Two years later, and without any formal cooking experience, Pic took control of the kitchen and began a breathtaking culinary journey. In 2007, the third star was returned to her family’s restaurant and Pic became the fourth female chef in history to obtain three Michelin stars. Despite growing up in Maison Pic, it took her over 20 years to realize that cooking was in her DNA. After briefly working in the USA and Japan, Pic returned home and trained with her father, Jacques Pic, just before his untimely death in 1992. Since taking the helm of Maison Pic, she has become one of the best chefs in France and an incredible source of inspiration to chefs worldwide. She now owns and oversees five restaurants, two gourmet takeouts, one delicatessen, one hotel, and one cooking school. Not only this, but she is also empowering women in hospitality, especially in her restaurant group where 80% of the employees are female.

Serge Trigano, Founder of Mama Shelter

"Understand that nothing is done, nothing is granted, and you have to take new experiences and new risks."

In 1997, Steve Jobs returned to Apple as its CEO after getting fired from his company just over 10 years earlier. In the same year, Serge Trigano was fired from his family’s business, Club Med, a leading all-inclusive holiday provider. Yet again, just like Jobs, Trigano didn’t allow this to stop him in his tracks. Flash forward to 2008, Serge Trigano has taken his wealth of experience and knowledge and has developed a groundbreaking hotel called Mama Shelter in Paris East. Since then, Trigano has opened nine Mama Shelters across the globe, from Bordeaux to Rio, and has plans for 12 more in other world-beating cities. The message to take away from Serge Trigano’s success is that you can always bounce back no matter how hard the fall.

Yannick Alléno, 3-Michelin Star Chef

"I don’t wake up and say: oh my goodness, I have to work. I say: wow, fantastic. It’s a new day so let’s go to create something new."

There are over 14 million “#mondaymotivation” posts on Instagram and we think Yannick Alléno should be the ambassador of this hashtag. The reason? It’s phenomenal to hear that he still has these levels of enthusiasm after working as one of the world’s best chefs for multiple decades. Alléno is part of an elite group of international chefs who have two 3-Michelin starred restaurants. Yet again, he has had to work extremely hard to rise to the top. He began working in the kitchens of Paris at 15 and even sliced salmon by hand for days on end, which he considers his “worst job ever.” These experiences made him more resilient and passionate to hone his cooking skills and achieve greatness. He is now renowned for being a pioneer in the culinary arts, especially due to his work with French sauces. Yannick Alléno’s story proves that creativity is an endless source that we all have within us and that it can be a career-making skill if you nurture it day-by-day.

In season 1, we have brought you the stories of three founders and two 3-Michelin star chefs. We hope that their first-hand experiences, wise words of advice, and extraordinary achievements will illustrate how fulfilling and innovative hospitality is. We have even more seasons lined up with charismatic, influential, and powerful hospitality figures so make sure you stay tuned!