ACCOR OFFERS GMs THE FAST-TRACK TO SUCCESS

Accor identifies 25 high performance GMs to cater for rapid expansion in Asia Pacific

In recognition of the key role General Managers play in the success of its hotels, Accor has developed a benchmark development program to ensure its GMs are amongst the most highly-skilled in the industry.

The role of a hotel GM has never been busier or more complicated – from guest services to sales, finance, human resources, social media, distribution and revenue management, they have to be experts in a wide range of specialisations. As Accor faces rapid expansion in Asia Pacific, the group has implemented a new talent development program called High Performing Leaders to prepare 25 experienced General Managers for senior leadership roles. 

Accor’s accredited training provider, Academie Accor, has partnered with Cornell University for this 12-month program which consists of 6 eCornell online leadership courses, a dedicated executive mentor, a collaboration site to share ideas and experiences, a forum with the Asia Pacific COO and a final presentation to the Executive Committee on learning outcomes.

In addition to this program, Accor offers comprehensive career development and training opportunities to all its General Managers.

“Organizations which embrace a learning culture create leaders and teams with open minds,” says Christine Rumble, VP Learning and Talent Development Accor Asia Pacific. “Leaders and team members who have open minds can generate business agility and adapt to change, which is essential in today’s dynamic business environment.

We have shifted the culture of our development program from being process driven and focused on training to focusing on outcomes and learning,” says Christine.

At Accor it begins with the on-boarding process where all General Managers undertake a thorough induction to the Accor values, systems and resources to ensure they are aware of all of the tools available and can use them effectively.  After the first six months, each General Manager receives a personal development plan which is designed to incorporate experiences, coaching and formal training courses using the 70/20/10 principle of learning.

Recognising that General Managers have time constraints balancing all their responsibilities, Accor provides 24/7 access to their e-learning platform, Academie Accor Online University, which provides a library of over 100 self-paced courses in leadership and hotel operations.

In addition, a number of face-to-face training courses have been identified as key to a GM’s success.  These are delivered by Academie Accor, Accor’s internal learning and development department, on a range of topics including hotel financial management, revenue management, crisis and media communication, leadership, coaching, sales and much more.

To keep up to date with the constant challenges and new technologies, guest speakers from the Accor Asia Pacific support departments deliver monthly webinars to “Sharpen the Saw”.  Specialists share a range of updates including use of social media, taming mobile applications, the importance of loyalty, sustainability programs and brand innovations during powerful one-hour information sessions.

Experienced GMs are also encouraged to formalise their learning with a qualification as Accor offers six scholarships for the International Hospitality Management Online MBA from Glion, every year. 

Philippe Le Bourhis, General Manager of Pullman Jakarta Indonesia and Area General Manager who was the first Accor GM to graduate from this program.

”This course provided an opportunity for me to connect and exchange ideas with other hotel industry professionals with different backgrounds, nationalities and experiences,” he said. “This enabled me to put forward and use my expertise that I have gained from my 20 years with Accor but also to learn and understand other companies’ concepts and values.

“It has also taught me the importance of research and understanding the different options available prior to making a final decision. Hospitality has become much more technical than in the past, and while looking after customers remains essential, the MBA course gave me the opportunity to explore the current techniques, trends and technologies used in the industry today. I now strive to apply these methods and processes in my new role and in my quest to achieve good results in terms of quality, innovation, leadership and performance.”