LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY
E HAVE HAD so much rain . There is so much flooding in town , it ’ s insane . I ’ m obliged to ask the staff to leave at two o ’ clock today because the roads will be impossible to drive on tonight . There is one metre of water in some streets .”
Not many would believe that Olivier Chavy , CEO of Swiss multinational Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts , was speaking from his regional office in Dubai . Zurich , London , Colombo , Hamburg – Chavy could instead be at any number of Mövenpick premises in parts of the world not unfamiliar with rainfall . “ Dubai is not equipped in terms of drainage ... it is not equipped at all for heavy rain ,” says Chavy , who , thankfully , decided to stay on premises and ride out the storm .
It has been almost a year since the French hotelier discussed all things hospitality with sister publication FDF World , and bizarre weather events aside , a lot has happened at Mövenpick since . “ 2017 has been a good year for us ,” Chavy reveals . “ It ’ s been very exciting . We have announced our ExCom-Y initiative , hiring 10 millennials
to be part of our executive team , and they have brought a lot to the table .”
GREEN DNA Not only does industry veteran Chavy describe the younger makeup of his leadership team , but he also mentions that a stronger environmental conscience has developed over the course of the year . This is illustrated by the fact that 90 % of Mövenpick hotels operate to a gold Green Globe standard . Green Globe , established in 1992
12 April 2018