MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK, LONDON AWARDED EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Within only one month of re-opening, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has been accorded the prestigious honour for Excellence in Training and Development at the Hotel & Catering Personnel and Training Association (HCPTA) Annual Awards for 2000.

Set to become London’s premier address and combining the highest levels of luxury and service standards, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park was presented with the award at a gala reception attended by more than 250 human resources professionals in the United Kingdom.

The award comes just weeks after the reopening of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park following the hotel’s extensive renovation and significant staff investment programme which has seen employee levels double to 300. The renovation has included the creation of two new restaurants and a bar – Foliage, Cafe on the Park and The Mandarin Bar; the refurbishment of all 200 rooms and suites and the creation of a luxurious pampering spa (due to open Autumn 2000). In addition, the hotel has also focussed on the needs of its employees, from the total overhaul of the back of house infrastructure with new kitchens to ‘Zen like’ staff recreation areas.

Throughout the restoration period, an intensive staff training programme gave hotel employees the opportunity to participate in cross-training programmes at the Group’s sister properties around the globe including The Oriental, Bangkok and Mandarin Oriental hotels in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Kuala Lumpur. The hotel also addressed the specialist needs of its staff and provided sponsored computer and language courses. In a commitment to its staff, all employees were retained during the temporary closure and a further 150 new staff recruited to ensure Mandarin Oriental service standards were in place for the opening. A two-day orientation for both new and existing staff also took place before the opening.

Director and General Manager, Liam Lambert, who played an integral role in the recruitment and training of the hotel’s employees, was delighted with the results of the award and was commending of his team members’ dedication and commitment in delighting their guests.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is recognized as the pioneer of exceptional service. Sister hotels such as The Oriental, Bangkok and Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong are testament to this, having garnered international acclaim for their award-winning service by readers of influential publications.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s finest hotels. The Group operates luxury hotels in key leisure and business destinations, with two hotels under development, one in Miami, Florida (opening late 2000) and the other in New York (opening late 2003). In total, Mandarin Oriental employs almost 9,000 staff in three continents with 10 hotels in Asia, seven in North America and four in Europe.