Introducing our next Legend under the Spotlight, Paul McDonald.
Paul joined Dorchester Collection in February as Area Director of People & Culture and oversees all three of our UK properties; The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane, and Coworth Park. Paul previously worked for Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Shangri-La, The Shard, London.
Paul was inspired to work for Dorchester Collection as he connects with the legacy of the properties and when changing job roles always likes to choose a different type of brand, to his previous, providing they are organisations that are people and guest centric. He liked the idea of supporting three iconic hotels, along with three different executive teams, and felt connected to the purpose and strategy of the company after his first interview.
Paul has only been a part of the team for 9 months, but is extremely proud to see the output of all the hard work and initial strategies implemented such as the introduction of the TRONC system and committees, laser eye focus on recruitment and vacancies including focusing on moving talent around the Dorchester Collection properties, and trying to elevate employee engagement further, all whilst supporting and being part of executive teams in the three hotels. He is also proud of integrating well, and hopefully building strong trust with hotel leaders and employees in a short space of time.
Paul loves seeing the sense of pride in all the employees that work with us. He also enjoys solving problems that make our leaders jobs easier, and therefore, this hopefully makes a better experience for our employees.
In the future, Paul would like to continue doing something or working in an organisation he connects to, perhaps his next move could be a head office role in another luxury sector or even Dorchester Collection head office.
Paul’s advice for someone starting out in the People & Culture team is ‘Don’t get caught up in the titles, positions, and responsibilities. Find what you enjoy, build on it, feel connected to it, work hard, the rest will follow. Always make time to actually understand the entire business you are supporting, and make sure you spend time in the business and not always in people and culture, opportunities open up everywhere – the more you are connected to the business/operations the easier your job becomes in people and culture! – Through building great relationships, with very hard working people.'
Paul is looking for legendary people to join his People & Culture team to help support The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane and Coworth Park. After internal promotions, looking for a Talent and People & Culture Administrator and a Learning and Development Manager, and in the next few months a strong and organised HR Manager [Fixed term contract]. If you are interested in joining London’s most iconic hotel, apply through the link below!
https://lnkd.in/e8h-KWsM