Petra Deuter, L+R Hotels Director of Operations, Programme Founder and Ambassador.
The Fast Track (MIT) Programme is the first in a series of initiatives that are pivotal to L+R Hotels’ future direction, involving all the owned and managed individual L+R Hotels properties and teams.
A new landmark in the hospitality industry was celebrated over the weekend of 4th to 6th October, with the launch of the L+R Hotels Fast Track Management in Training (MIT) Programme. Leading the three-day event was Petra Deuter, L+R Hotels
Director of Operations, Programme Founder and Ambassador.
The launch event marked several significant advances for L+R Hotels (landrhotels.com), the global hotel investment and management company which owns prestigious hotel and resort properties in the UK, Continental Europe, the US and the Caribbean.
A united initiative
The Fast Track (MIT) Programme is the first in a series of initiatives that are pivotal to L+R Hotels’ future direction, involving all the owned and managed individual L+R Hotels properties and teams.
As a recent addition to L+R Hotels’ hotel portfolio, The Lensbury in Teddington, England was chosen to host the launch. It is one of 13 L+R Hotels participating in the inaugural Programme – demonstrating how L+R Hotels’ properties will now unite to deliver cohesive, industry-leading training programmes.
Open and inclusive
L+R Hotels’ new Fast Track (MIT) Programme epitomises the company’s talentfocused approach to recruitment. Applicants are judged on their attitude, aptitude and ambition, and don’t necessarily need to have studied hospitality at a hotel school or university, or have industry experience. Internal applicants are welcomed too, giving motivated L+R Hotels employees the chance to progress their careers through the company internationally.
This open and inclusive recruitment policy has resulted in a first intake of Fast Track (MIT) Programme trainees with a richly varied, multicultural background. There are four young women and six young men from six different nationalities, all speaking more than one language. Whilst eight of them come from renowned European hotel schools, one of the Programme’s participants studied law in Madrid and another is already working within L+R Hotels.
Commitment from top management
Over the course of the weekend, L+R Hotels Managing Director and several Senior Executives, as well as Human Resource Experts, welcomed the management trainees and, in seminars and talks, shared some of their invaluable knowledge gained during successful careers spanning decades of experience in the real estate, acquisitions, asset management, operations and people development aspects of hospitality. They also provided inspiring insights, not only into the industry, but also to
the approaches and strategies of L+R Hotels.
The opportunity for trainees to benefit from this level of support is rare in management training programmes, and demonstrates the commitment of L+R Hotels’ top management to educate and nurture incoming talent.
Breakfast with the Chairman
There was more evidence of the company’s open and approachable culture when Fast Track participants enjoyed ‘Breakfast with the Chairman’. The trainees heard about the history of London & Regional Properties and how L+R Hotels has grown into a global hospitality success with over 17,000 rooms. Reflecting on his own rise through various service focused industries, one of the chairmen emphasised the importance of the Fast Track Programme and how the company’s flat entrepreneurial structure offers trainees great opportunities to shape L+R Hotels’ future, alongside their own success.
More benefits for trainees
The L+R Hotels Fast Track Management in Training Programme stands apart from other hospitality training schemes with a number of exceptional incentives for participants. Experiencing six departments across three different L+R Hotels properties (city, resort and country hotels), they have the opportunity to work in the UK (including in the Iconic Luxury Hotels, Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, Trafalgar St. James and Strand Palace) and at Nobu Ibiza, Amathus Beach Hotel in
Rhodes and the Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort.They will earn a competitive salary as they train and will secure an entry level managerial position in only 18 months on successfully completing their training.
A significant launch
Director of Operations Petra Deuter said “It’s been terrific to create and implement our inaugural Fast Track Management in Training Programme, and see our hotels join together to support it.
This is a milestone for the L+R Hotels brand; the first time we have united to deliver such a key initiative. I believe the success of this weekend has brought L+R Hotels even closer together and encourages more shared programmes that will make us
stand out even more in the future.
On a personal level, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work on an innovative project, which I trust will be recognised in the industry as ground breaking and inspirational.”
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
