28/04/2026
RECRUITMENT | The REAL Brief
In hospitality, I hear this constantly.
"Must have 5 star hotel experience."
"Must come from the industry."
"Must have done this role before, in this type of property."
And then the same leadership team sits in a board meeting saying:
"We need fresh ideas."
"We need someone who thinks differently."
"We need innovation."
But you can't hire for familiarity and expect disruption.
Some of the best General Managers I have seen in this industry came from finance.
They understood the numbers behind every operational decision before they ever ran a property. Some came from retail. They understood people, pressure, volume, and service recovery at a scale most hotels never see.
The brief that says "must have done this exact role before" is sometimes the brief that keeps the same thinking in the room.
The best hire is not always the obvious one. Sometimes it's the candidate who brings everything you need, just not in the package you expected.
What is the most surprising background you have ever hired from?
Jocelyn
The Hospitality Desk
