La Casa : Do you believe that offering a housing solution to your employees is necessary today to recruit ?
Claire Guthuix, Director of People & Culture, Le Bristol Paris : Following the health crisis, it is true that the hotel and restaurant sector has faced challenges in recruitment.
Therefore, in 2022, we implemented actions to increase visibility and recruit again. This is how we chose to collaborate with Welcome to The Jungle to reach profiles from other sectors than hospitality but with an interest in the art of living, customer service, etc. We also emphasized our partnerships with schools located outside the Paris region.
However, to attract profiles living outside the Paris region, we had to think about solutions to overcome barriers to mobility, particularly housing in Paris.
La Casa : Do you believe that offering a housing solution to your employees is necessary today to recruit ?
Claire Guthuix, Le Bristol: Yes, especially for candidates coming from other regions or even from abroad, given Le Bristol's international reach. Moving to Paris can be a significant source of stress for candidates and therefore a barrier. Therefore, as an employer, we believe that offering a friendly and comfortable housing solution is a way to attract and support these profiles in their first steps in Paris
La Casa : Why did you choose a shared housing solution rather than an individual option like Airbnb or an apartment hotel ?
Claire Guthuix, Le Bristol Paris : Beyond the practical aspect of providing affordable housing to our employees, we believe it is wise to offer a solution that encourages the creation of social bonds, exchanges, and integration, both in Paris and within the company. Starting a new job requires energy, and it is essential for us to simplify this phase by alleviating the mental burden associated with finding accommodation and establishing a social network. Colocation facilitates this connection with others, which is not the case with other options like serviced apartments.
La Casa : Why did you choose the La Casa offer? What are the advantages that you value as an employer ?
Claire Guthuix, Le Bristol Paris : The La Casa colocation concept aligns with our values of elegance, family, and kindness; we have enjoyed working with this passionate, caring, and humble team.
La Casa reflects an atmosphere that corresponds to our corporate culture: as soon as you arrive, you feel a family-like atmosphere, "just like home."
From a more practical point of view, especially for those who will live at La Casa, we found that the flexibility, support (check-in, onboarding, inventory check...), cost-effectiveness, and pleasant environment offered by La Casa were real advantages. The rooms are furnished and decorated with care to make the roommates feel comfortable. La Casa reflects an atmosphere that corresponds to our corporate culture: as soon as you arrive, you feel a family-like atmosphere, "just like home," much like when you walk through the revolving door of the Bristol Paris.
The shared living guide illustrates mastery of communal living. As an employer, it is important to know that our employees will be supported throughout their adventure to have an enriching coliving experience.
La Casa : You organized a Management Seminar at Casa de Cachan while waiting for the first employees to move in. Can you tell us about your experience? What were your impressions ?
Claire Guthuix, Le Bristol Paris : All members of the Management Committee present were unanimous: they were impressed by the quality of the house and the warm and friendly atmosphere that emanated from it even though the residents had not yet moved in. During my visit three weeks ago, I could easily envision myself in this space. From then on, you could already feel the good vibes of the house and clearly perceive the care taken in the decoration and facilities, with particular attention to the quality of materials.
Our People & Culture team also visited Casa; it was indeed important to gather feedback from several profiles and generations.
They all returned from their visit expressing their common impression: "We felt a genuine intention for the roommates to feel comfortable, with meticulous attention to detail, the use of quality materials, and a layout of the house aimed at making it pleasant to live in, almost like a hotel."
The overall feeling was so positive that we had a hard time leaving the premises. Before we left, a team member even started the dishwasher, replicating the gesture one has when leaving their own home.
La Casa : What are the advantages, in your opinion, for your future employees ?
Claire Guthuix, Le Bristol Paris : Beyond what has already been mentioned, the major advantage for our employees lies in accessing a very pleasant quality of life, just a stone's throw from Paris, while experiencing a connection with others. The fact of benefiting from an all-inclusive package, including water, internet, utilities, services such as cleaning, maintenance, a shared grocery budget, and premium facilities is very practical and enhances the quality of life for our employees. Whether it's the cinema room or the washing machine, these amenities can sometimes be difficult (or even impossible) to obtain.
In addition, the neighborhood of Casa de Cachan, residential and peaceful, offers the advantage of being only a 5-minute walk from all amenities such as a large fresh market, a supermarket, a pharmacy, and a gym, promoting an active lifestyle, with the pleasure of walking.
Finally, the garden is also a major asset. Having a balcony in the Paris region is already considered an advantage, so having a garden with amenities is a luxury. Roommates will be able to enjoy the outdoors during the nice weather while staying comfortably at home.
La Casa : Any final words before we conclude ?
Claire Guthuix, Le Bristol Paris : We are looking forward to welcoming our first roommates to Casa de Cachan. We will first make it available to employees who join us for a short period, from 3 to 4 months, between seasons. This will allow them to settle in comfortably, without undergoing the often challenging transition of environment, and to truly feel at home during this period, which is not usually the case when they are housed in a hotel.
The arrival of the first employee at Casa de Cachan is expected soon. He is currently working in Germany at a hotel in the group, and having accommodation on site upon his arrival represents a source of tranquility and comfort for him.
The Business Casas
Claire Guthuix
Director of People & Culture, Le Bristol Paris
