TFE Hotels has officially launched their inaugural ‘Go Global’ International Exchange program which sees team members
from Germany and Australia ‘swap’ home countries and learn best hotel practices from their hosts. With a strong focus on cultural immersion and building leadership capabilities, the Go Global program is all about nurturing young leaders with the wider support of TFE’s global hotel network.
TFE Hotels’ Chief People Officer, Michelle Bevan, said there had been an incredible response to the internal call to action, with Go Global representing an incredible opportunity for team members to travel the world, immerse themselves in a new way of life and culture, and to forge a career with the support of TFE’s global leaders.
Whilst there is plenty of time for sightseeing, Bevan says the exchange is not all fun and games with the Go Global program specifically tailored to each participant, to allow them to flex their strengths and expand their adaptive thinking in a completely new hotel environment.
“As a global business, with a strong focus on building leadership capability, it is important that we continue to develop our people through experience, exposure and education,” Michelle said. “Go Global gives us an opportunity to connect our teams and to share skills, experience and industry best practice across international borders.”“Importantly, this experience also gives our candidates the chance to connect and expand on a personal level as well.”
Earlier this year, Cluster General Manager of Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi and Coogee, Diana Quinones-Silva, swapped her Aussie cossie for an overcoat and headed to Germany as the first-ever Go Global participant. Since arriving in Germany, Diana has supported various Adian hotel properties in Munich, Berlin, and Dusseldorf, where she not only experienced German culture for the very first time but also learnt and shared operations and leadership best practice.
This week, TFE’s second homegrown participant, Jason Stobbs, Regional Revenue Manager, left Australia’s most remote capital city, Perth, for a stint in the Adina Hotels Head Office in Berlin. Jason says he will also have ample opportunity to visit TFE’s growing European hotel network to get to know the teams and processes.
“I won’t lie, I’m nervous and I’m super excited about the opportunity to work abroad,” he said. “I haven’t been to Europe since I was a kid, so I’ll have to bone up on my Grade 7 German on the plane ride over.”
Jason says that between work and play, his time will be well spent.
“I’ve calculated that I have 12 weekends and I have a whole list of places I want to visit, so it’s going to be go, go, go, the whole time.”
Jason maintains having access to an international exchange program like Go Global is just one of the many perks of working in a global business and said he was looking forward to the learning experiences ahead and to imparting Aussie pearls of wisdom to his Adina colleagues.
In the true spirit of exchange, two Adina Europe participants have already begun their learning journeys Down Under. Adina Stuttgart’s Nikol Onodi, landed on Australian shores in early September, and has already survived her first Aussie “heat wave” with temps soaring to 35 on a single day not long after her arrival. Nikol will spend time in several full-service hotel products in Sydney, Brisbane, and on the Gold Coast during her four-month exchange.
“My goal is to learn and grow professionally and bring home knowledge in order to implement positive changes to our European properties,” she said.
Of course, she’s also keen to immerse herself in Australian and New Zealand culture having already explored the sights of Sydney, with more travel plans locked in once she successfully finishes the program.
“On the top of my list is the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and a trip to New Zealand,” Nikol said. “I also can’t wait to visit the Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane and cuddle a little koala.”
Angela Di Gennaro also travelled to Sydney as part of the exchange from her hometown of Berlin. Hotel Relief Team members are sent wherever support is needed, so Relief Assistant Manager, Angela, is in her element in her new home country. She is currently learning the ropes at Adina Pentridge in Melbourne, with further stops in Brisbane before her return home next February.
“It’s an absolute dream to be able to spend several months in Australia and immerse myself in the culture, without having to give up my secure job at home,” she said. “I’ve already collected memories and formed friendships that will accompany me throughout my life.”
Michelle Bevan says TFE Senior Leaders knew they were giving team members a life-changing career opportunity when they sought expressions of interest earlier this year.
“Just months after its launch, the programme is already receiving positive feedback from the inaugural candidates and interest in the next intake is high,” she said.
Go Global is just one of a number of team benefits the Sydney-based hotel operator had introduced in the past 12 months to all TFE team members. Others include enhanced parental and life leave, flexible work arrangements and wellness partnerships with Telus Health and Sonder.
