Opening time
New openings are always a challenge. If you're keen to get into the hospitality sector or hungry for a new opportunity, then here's a list of who's planning what in the next six months, by Sara Guild.
Looking for a new challenge? Many of the exhibitors at Opportunities 2001 could provide you with just that, as they're opening new venues in the next three to six months. Why not get in at ground level and become part of an opening team? That always looks good on the CV.
Accor UK and Ireland hotels
Brands: five-star - one Sofitel; three- and four-star - one Mercure and 21 Novotel; economy - 31 Ibis, six Formule 1, one Etap.
New openings: a 151-bedroom Ibis is due to open in Northampton in November and a five-star, 175-bedroom Sofitel is opening next March in St James's, London. Staff are needed for positions across the board.
Compass
Brands: Compass is the largest food service organisation in the UK, with 8,400 locations. Little Chef, Travelodge and Moto motorway services are familiar brand names, but Compass also operates in staff restaurants, hospitals, café-bars, corporate hospitality and foodcourts.
New openings: food service works slightly differently, and if Compass wins a new contract, chances are that they'll inherit the staff from the outgoing caterer. However, the company employs a range of staff, from customer service assistants to chefs and cashiers to those in purchasing and sales. If operations are your bag, work your way up to management and you could play a key role in the overseeing of a new contract win.
Groupe Chez Gérard
Brands: 10 Livebait (mainly fish restaurants); 12 Chez Gérard (French brasserie-style); five signature restaurants - three Bertorelli, one Brasserie St Quentin and one Scotts.
New openings: a 200-seat Chez Gérard is due to open at London Gatwick airport in October/November. All positions are being recruited for at Opportunities 2001.
In the City of London, the group is opening a 100-seat Livebait restaurant in October. Most of the managerial positions are being filled through internal promotions, but it's still a good place for first-time jobseekers. Also, as it's in the City, it's only open Monday to Friday, so expect five straight shifts and weekends off - now that's the way to go.
Early in 2002 the company will be opening a Livebait and a Chez Gérard in Birmingham, so if you're based up that way, don't think you have to move to London to work for the company.
The group is also looking to fill a supervisor's role and a junior sous chef position at the 100-seat Chez G‚rard in Cambridge, which opened in July.
Hilton (London region)
Brands: 13 Hilton properties located in the London region.
New openings: the 355-bedroom Hilton London Paddington is due to open in December and staff of all levels, across all departments, are being recruited.
The 129-bedroom Trafalgar, Hilton's first lifestyle hotel, opened in July and there are still positions available, mostly at junior levels.
Jurys Doyle
Brands: (UK) six Jurys Doyle Hotels; five Jurys Doyle Inns.
New openings: a 200-plus-bedroom Jurys Doyle Inn is due to open in February in Croydon. The company has begun advertising internally, but will be looking to fill positions across departments and at all levels. Succeed here and promotion could await you when the company opens another Jurys Doyle Inn in Newcastle in 2003.
Radisson Edwardian Hotels
Brand: 10 Radisson Edwardian in London.
New openings: there are no plans for expansion at present. The company is primarily looking for front-line staff and chefs at Opportunities 2001.
Red Carnation Hotels
Brands: five individual properties in London and one in Palm Beach, Florida.
New openings: the company's managing director, Jonathan Raggett, says it is planning to purchase two hotels in Western Europe within the next six months. Both are currently Leading Hotels of the World and Red Carnation will not know its exact staffing needs until the purchases are complete.
Regent Inns
Brands: eight Bar Risa/Jongleurs; 21 Walkabout Inns; 92 unbranded, consisting of pubs, restaurants and hotels around the UK.
New openings: the company "looks to promote from within" for new openings, and junior staff are recruited two weeks prior to opening. The company has a Jongleurs opening in Glasgow in November, but says it won't be recruiting for that specifically at Opportunities 2001. Instead, they are looking for management trainees with some experience.
Starbucks
Brands: 200-plus Starbucks in the UK; three in Switzerland; 3,700 in the USA.
New openings: the company "has intentions" to open at "many sites around the UK" but as to where and when, it is not prepared to say.
