Perform:Duong Thuy
Although it opened in mid-March, InterContinental Nha Trang - the newest international 5-star hotel in Nha Trang - has just recently held an introduction ceremony in the Ho Chi Minh City market. Mr. Pascal Caubo - General Director of InterContinental Nha Trang - shared with Travellive reporters about the business strategy to promote the development of the 4th member of the InterContinental brand of the IHG group.
A Dutch national, Mr. Pascal Caubo has been involved in the hotel management industry for over 20 years. Prior to taking on the position of General Manager of InterContinental Nha Trang, he was Deputy General Manager of InterContinental Asiana Saigon.
Travellive: The Vietnamese have a saying, “All beginnings are hard.” What was your experience like at the InterContinental Nha Trang?
Mr. Pascal Caubo:Of course, there are many difficulties when starting a new job, especially putting a 5-star international standard hotel into operation. However, I feel lucky because beside me is a very dynamic and enthusiastic staff. We work together in harmony, share and bond together. All of this is to affirm that InterContinental Nha Trang is a perfect 5-star Luxury accommodation, an ideal destination for tourists when visiting Nha Trang, which is voted as one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world.
Travellive: Previously a project under the Crowne Plaza brand, when switching to the new brand, what significant changes has InterContinental Nha Trang made, sir?
Mr. Pascal Caubo:Every hotel brand always has aconceptdesign, layout with its own mark. When switching to the InterContinental brand, all previous designs were considered unusable and had to be completely changed. Our team spent many months working hard with architects, construction units and suppliers in great detail to convey our ideas to turn the hotel into 1InterContinental Nha Trang with perfect architecture, meeting brand standards.
Travellive: Unlike Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, the local qualified human resources to work for InterContinental Nha Trang seem to be difficult to meet all the needs of an international hotel. How did you and your management team overcome this human resource problem?
Mr. Pascal Caubo:It is true that Nha Trang still lacks a number of well-trained personnel in the hotel industry. Realizing this, we have planned to recruit people according to criteria, prioritizing young people with qualities, and above all, a sense of learning and passion for work. We actively go to universities and colleges in the city to talk to young people about career opportunities, and through such contacts, we have selected a team of young but extremely enthusiastic employees. We believe that experience and skills can be trained, but awareness and passion must come from the employees themselves. My philosophy on this matter is: "Take good care of your employees, and when they are happy and work with a comfortable, excited mood, they will bring that into their work and take good care of customers, and that is the important factor that brings customers back to us." That is also the secret to my success!
