Kempinski Seychelles Switches thing up

Managers at Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare switched roles with their employees to walk a proverbial mile in each other's shoes. The work experience initiative, known as Kempinski SWITCH, allowed team mates to garner first-hand experience of each other's daily tasks and working environment by "switching" places with another team member for a day.

The SWITCH took place across functions and hierarchies: managers were invited to step into the shoes of their staff for a day - and vice versa - so that each could experience what the other's respective roles entail. During the course of the workplace experiment, members of the hotel's senior management got hands-on experience of cleaning guestrooms, handling guest queries and performing security checks, while junior staff members headed up meetings and attended to staff concerns.

The SWITCH initiative aimed to serve all team members with a platform to view and understand the importance and value of each and every single position within the luxury hotel.

"Understanding how each individual contributes towards the overall success of the team and the hotel is critical in order to craft a beautiful performance together," said the hotel's general manager, Masami Egami. The experiential learning initiative was designed to foster an ideal environment for colleagues to broaden their horizons and promote a culture of collaboration.

"Participating in Kempinski SWITCH also gave us the chance to discover hidden talents and identify potential career development opportunities," said human resources manager, Cheryl Marie, who was responsible for cleaning staff housing during her career swap. "As managers, we were given a first-hand experience of employee life and were inspired with fresh ideas to identify areas for improvement."

The Kempinski SWITCH imitative takes place every year, in Kempinski properties across the globe.

About Kempinski

Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski's rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Today the Kempinski Group operates 82 hotels and residences in 34 countries and currently has more than 25 prestigious projects under development around the globe. Each five-star hotel reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage; each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts and prestigious residences. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands. www.kempinski.com www.ghadiscovery.com