Bastien Blanc
It is Monday, June 21 – Welcome to Season 4, Episode 5 of “Monday motivation – Felix asks”. In today´s episode, I am introducing you to a passionate hotelier, who is working for IHG Hotels and Resorts, which is one of the biggest hotel chains worldwide. As per statista.com, IHG ranks number three when it comes to the number of guestrooms, with almost 900.000 rooms worldwide. The list is headed by Marriott (1.400.693) and Hilton Worldwide (974.508).
While the origins of the business can be traced back to 1777, IHG was officially founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Denham, United Kingdom. In 1949, the first InterContinental Hotel opened in Belem, Brazil. Almost 50 years before the InterContinental brand became part of the IHG family. Over the years, the company opened almost 6000 hotels all around the world, divided into 16 brands. The portfolio shows the diversity of our industry and ranges from Holiday Inn to Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.
Today, I am very glad to welcome Bastien Blanc, the Managing Director of IHG Hotels and Resorts for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, who has over 30 years of experience in hospitality. In this role, Bastien is accountable for developing and executing the market strategy and leading a multi-discipline team in Riyadh.
Bastien and I met a couple of years ago, during an event with Fairmont at the Arabic Travel Mart. Back then, Bastien was Vice President of Sales and Marketing MEAI. After his assignment with Fairmont, Bastien joined IHG in 2017 as VP Operations ME, overlooking 80 properties, and expanded his tasks in 2018 to the MENA region - Middle East and North Africa before he became the Managing Director of KSA and Bahrain.
During the interview, Bastien gave an insight into the early start of his career, back in France and told us his meaning of hospitality. We talked about a story that happened during the pandemic in a hotel in Riyadh, which shows how guest-centered he is, his advice to the new generation as well as his book recommendations. In addition, Bastien also shared with us the 2 things, he learned from his grandfather – two things that he still applies.
From my point of view, the interview comes with a lot of learning and is the perfect read to start the week highly motivated. I hope you enjoy it.
Question 1: Where did you start your career?
Bastien Blanc (BB): “There are different ways to look at this question… I would say it started when I was 5 years old and my grandmother who was an avid cook, and was always having me in her kitchen, gave me my first cooking book. The most official start was as a commis chef in Toulouse, the city I am from in the south of France, where I spent hours and hours cleaning vegetables before starting to do kitchen seasonal jobs in the southwest of France, England, as well as the French Riviera for a couple of years.”
Question 2: What does hospitality mean to you?
BB: “It is all about being a gracious host. As much as technology has grown within our industry over the years, the connection/exchange, human to human, remains at the heart of the experience we provide to our guests and our colleagues. I always say to our General Manager that being “the host” is a great way to demonstrate how you want to welcome your guests in your own home, which in this case is the hotel you lead. The GM leads by example, his approach trickles down to the team, creating a distinct ambiance in the hotel.”
“The GM leads by example, his approach trickles down to the team, creating a distinct ambiance in the hotel.”
Question 3: Can you please share an anecdote you experienced, that shows the variety and beauty of our industry?
BB: “Throughout the pandemic, we have all seen many examples of a thoughtful and caring approach within our hotels and throughout the industry. Caring towards colleagues, their families, guests who may have been stranded in the country due to travel restrictions, which demonstrated that consistent care is at the heart of what we do as hoteliers. I remember personally meeting with some Swiss guests in Riyadh at the beginning of the pandemic who were panicking, concerned that they couldn’t communicate their needs, worried they would get locked in an unfamiliar country away from their loved ones. I took the time to reassure them, helped them to coordinate with their embassy, got them a nice meal, and eventually they were able to return to Switzerland. Whatever your job is within a hotel, caring for people around you is part of being a hotelier.”
“Whatever your job is within a hotel, caring for people around you is part of being a hotelier.”
Question 4: Have you had a mentor in your career? Who was it and did she/he gave you a piece of advice you still follow?
BB: “My mentor was my grandfather, who told me 2 simple things that I have applied since. Always give your best, and be nice to everyone. It has led me to wake up every day asking myself how can I get the stay of our guests to be more enjoyable in our hotels, and how I can provide the best support to our colleagues to deliver this memorable experience. This led me to meet some incredible people along the way, in the many countries I have visited, and enriched my vision of many things in the world through this unfiltered sharing.”
“My mentor was my grandfather, who told me 2 simple things that I have applied since. Always give your best, and be nice to everyone.”
Question 5: What would you like to say to a hospitality/ tourism student/professional who recently started his/her career, at this right moment?
BB: “They couldn’t pick a better moment, as following the pandemic there will be significant growth in tourism worldwide which will benefit to any young professional who wants to grow, both domestically and internationally! I personally believe that new forms of tourism will come to life that this new generation will lead with their own vision of the future.”
Question 6: Do you have a book recommendation - this could be everything from a novel to an autobiography, etc.
BB: ““Think again” from Adam Grant is one of my all time favorites as it supports a different way of thinking. Also “The 4 hour workweek”, as if today I would have to start my career from scratch, I would definitely look at how to create more time to take care of myself - which the new economy and new flexible ways of working definitely enable.”
Question 7: "Is there something you learned or started in 2020 which you continue in 2021?
BB: “Like for many working from home, as reminded me the importance of taking time, enjoying time, time with family, with friends, time to learn, time to exercise, time to cook, time to breath… this is definitely a learning or reminder of life, I will cherish beyond the pandemic.”
Bastien, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope we will meet soon and I am wishing you a fantastic week.
Have a great week and do not forget to #sharepositivestories
