In the latest installment of our regular series, we speak to Time Grand Plaza general manager Chris Fourment.
Fourmet joined the Dubai hotel last year, having previously worked in the Czech Republic and UK.
Why do you work in hospitality and what got you into the industry in the first place?
Hospitality offers a plethora of opportunities and opens doors to new horizons. Every country in the world has a dynamic hospitality industry and the skills you learn working here are readily transferable. Hospitality gives you the key to discovering new countries, new cultures and new people. Besides, it is an extremely creative world and there is always scope to better guest experiences! For me, every day I come to work it is about making a positive impact to somebody else’s day. Our business is all about people and heart. It’s not about widgets or spreadsheets; it’s about making people happy. This is why I chose this industry.
For me working in hospitality means a workplace with a great atmosphere, therefore I hire people with pleasant friendly personalities. This thought process is one of the reasons why this industry is home to some of the most vibrant, lively and fun people.
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Who in the industry has been a big inspiration for you?
During the entire length of my career, there have been a few people coming from key executive committees to operational roles that gave me the desire to pursue the field. Each personality and approach has given me a better understanding into the meaning of real hospitality.
What is your leadership ethos?
Experience has taught me that being a leader is not only about my ideas, my strategies and my vision. A good leader starts by being a good follower. People are ultimately inspired by a leader’s presence and way of being. Aristotle spoke of ‘ethos’ as a type of leadership in which a leader influences others to change their values and thus their performance. ‘Ethos’ is not what a person says or promises, but it is their way of being in the world, their presence and comportment that affects how others follow them and whether they are open to their ideas. And that is the way and the role I adopt.
What gets you out of bed in the morning every day to do your job?
Personally, what gets me out of bed in the morning is the thought of what’s next. I’m excited about the possibilities, about learning more and progressing in my career. Being General Manager, it’s my responsibility to promote excellent service to my colleagues and in turn this creates an excellent service and environment for our guests.
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