Sofitel hosts global talent competition for staff

Hotel chain Sofitel has hosted a ‘Sofitel’s Got Talent’ competition for its global employees.

The event encouraged all employees to demonstrate their artistic talents by expressing the cultural link of their hotel, city or country within Sofitel’s three brand pillars: design, gastronomy and culture.

First prize was awarded to staff at Sofitel Saigon Plaza in Vietnam, who created a fashion show made completely with paper. They were awarded with a trip for two to Paris.

Second prize was awarded to employees at Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese in Italy for their song highlighting the cultural links between France and Italy, while third prize was awarded to employees at Sofitel Strasbourg Grand’Ile for a flashmob it staged within the hotel.

A special recognition award went to employees at Sofitel Gold Coast in Australia for their rap.

The competition started with a first round staged in each hotel on, or around, Sofitel’s Ambassador Day in June 2013. Ambassador Day is an annual day in which Sofitel employees around the world share their creativity and pride to be an ‘ambassador’, showing an involvement and strong adhesion to Sofitel’s culture.

Each competition was recorded and the winning entry was sent to compete in the regional contest.

Magali Laurent, senior vice president of HR at Sofitel Worldwide, said: “We were so pleased that our [employees] expressed their understanding of the cultural link to French elegance in a magnifique way at ‘Sofitel’s Got Talent’ via music, painting, sculpture, fashion shows, cuisine, movie production, dance and more.

“More than 27,000 [employees] serve our guests every day around the world, and we are proud to share their talent and enthusiasm.”