QWL- HOTELIERS IN SEASONAL DESTINATIONS TAKE ACTION TO HOUSE THEIR STAFF
From the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to Morocco, hoteliers have to rival each other in ingenuity to find solutions to house their staff, one of the keys to retaining their teams, and especially their seasonal workers. |
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QWL- HOTELIERS IN SEASONAL DESTINATIONS TAKE ACTION TO HOUSE THEIR STAFF
From the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to Morocco, hoteliers have to rival each other in ingenuity to find solutions to house their staff, one of the keys to retaining their teams, and especially their seasonal workers. |
Category: Worldwide - Careers
- Career
Article written by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on 2024-07-17
 For Stéphane Personeni, Managing Director of Lily of the Valley, staff accommodation is one of the crucial factors in the well-being of his teams
Photo credit © Lily of the Valley Overcoming real estate pressure
In these destinations, where seasonal rental accommodation is flourishing, finding accommodation, whether for the year or the season, is a real issue, and poses problems in terms of recruitment and retaining staff. Stéphane Personeni, Managing Director of Lily of the Valley, highlights his company's efforts to help employees find accommodation in a region where property prices are particularly high. “We are well aware of the challenges posed by the housing market in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. That's why we offer financial assistance in the form of housing subsidies for year-round employees,” he explains. This aid is supplemented by meetings organised with Action Logement to help put together financing applications.
On the other shore of the Mediterranean, in Morocco, Laurent Demoulin, General Manager of the St.Regis Tamuda Bay, stresses the importance of offering comfortable and secure accommodation solutions for seasonal staff. “A partner is renting us a building with 110 beds spread over 30 fully furnished and equipped flats,” he explains. These flats, which comply with Marriott standards, are a 20-minute drive from the hotel and are served by a dedicated transport service.
Purpose-built, conveniently located residences
To meet the specific needs of seasonal workers, Lily of the Valley has invested in five residences, located less than ten minutes' drive from the hotel. “We offer our seasonal workers the possibility of accommodation in one of our residences specifically dedicated to teams,” explains Stéphane Personeni. Various types of accommodation are available, from double studios to two-bedroom flats, as well as shared residences with communal areas. “Some of our residences also have swimming pools accessible to tenants,” adds the Managing Director. This means that up to 278 employees are housed in suitable conditions.
“We are also planning to introduce electric bicycles for employee travel, an initiative designed to promote an environmentally friendly and practical mode of transport,” adds Laurent Demoulin. At Lily of the Valley, free shuttle buses run every 15 minutes from 6am to 1am, enabling employees to reach the hotel free of charge. “Parking is available for those who work outside these hours,” explains Stéphane Personeni. Each residence has parking spaces and shared outdoor areas, some of which even include swimming pools.
As for the St.Regis Tamuda Bay, the flats are fully equipped and spread over non-mixed floors. “Each flat is designed to accommodate around four people,” adds Laurent Demoulin. In addition, there is a dedicated service to ensure the security, maintenance, and cleanliness of the premises, guaranteeing a pleasant working and living environment for the staff. These initiatives demonstrate the hotels' commitment to improving the living conditions of their staff, a key factor in their success.
Projects and challenges
Stéphane Personeni points out that the hotel continues to optimise its portfolio of residences through regular maintenance. “Our aim is to find accommodation solutions for all our teams to contribute to their personal well-being and professional fulfilment, which is a key factor in our success,” stresses Lily of the Valley's General Manager.
The awareness is collective and shared by the French trade union UMIH. Its president, Thierry Marx, said in a press release on Tuesday 16 July: “When it comes to accommodation, we need to turn things around! Without decent housing, there can be no jobs, and the success of our businesses is hampered, particularly in seasonal areas. We need to take action to renovate existing accommodation, build new residences specifically for employees and work with all the players, including local authorities and Action Logement, to facilitate access to affordable, well-located accommodation”. To this end, the UMIH has announced the signing of a partnership with Action Logement to facilitate the provision of short-term accommodation, particularly in tourist areas.
In Saint-Tropez, the luxury hotel industry is also getting involved, by tackling this issue jointly. According to Var Matin, Tamaris Holding, a company formed by LVMH and Airelles Collection, is planning to build 112 one-bedroom flats for seasonal workers. The accommodation will include car parks, underground service rooms, a kitchen, laundry facilities, a gym and social rooms.
Staff accommodation in seasonal destinations remains a crucial issue for the hotel industry. The initiatives mentioned above demonstrate that with determination and investment, solutions can be found to guarantee a comfortable and secure living environment for employees in the industry.
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