Maelle COLLOT is currently Group operation manager for Otentic Host in Zanzibar.

Born in the French Vosges Mountains region, Maelle Collot graduated in 2016 with MBA in International Hotel Management from Vatel Nimes and as her very first job was hired as the General Manager of the Indigo Beach Zanzibar Hotel in Tanzania.

THREE HASHTAGS THAT DESCRIBE YOU:

#ExploreYourself, #ExploreTheWorld, #KaribuZanzibar (Karibu means welcome here)

BEST MEMORIES OF YOUR THEORETICAL COURSES AT VATEL:

The Vatel International Business Game! An adrenalin-filled week where we all lived the game to the fullest and gave out very best to be able to be one of the winners!

BEST MEMORIES OF YOUR PRACTICAL COURSES AT VATEL:

My week in the sales department which was organizing a wedding at that time. I really appreciated taking part in this big day for the husband and wife and their guests.

YOUR BEST INTERNSHIP MEMORY:

The fourth of July celebration during my internship at the American Hospitality Academy in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. France, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United States... we came from the entire world and we all have fond memories of the end-of-the-internship ball that was organized in our honor.

YOUR JOB IN A FEW WORDS:

In charge of the daily management of the hotel and its personnel, as the General Manager I manage my operational teams (the front desk, maintenance, restaurant services, the rooms division, etc.) and draw up development strategies in order to increase turnover in our hotel and room occupancy rates.  On a daily basis, I make sure customers are satisfied and want to come back and that my teams are working well together.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR HOTEL:

• A boutique hotel with 9 bungalows and 10 guest rooms on a private beach
• A bar/restaurant and a small shop
• A team 30 employees

YOUR 2 MAIN HANDS-ON MISSIONS:

• Greeting guests, taking care of them, and guest relationships                
• Managing teams in the lobby, restaurant services, rooms division, the gardens and maintenance

YOUR 2 MAIN MISSIONS IN THE OFFICE:

• Drawing up schedules and doing the payroll
• Financial controls: monitoring guest payments, paying our suppliers, inventory management, preparing budgets, etc.

3 QUALITIES REQUIRED TO DO THIS JOB:

• Self-confidence: the key to succeed in assuming your decisions and taking initiatives When you trust yourself you’re better able to manage your teams, have a better buy-in and work seamlessly.
• Versatility and flexibility: with a very small structure, you’re the one in charge all over, omni-present and you have to be able to replace everyone anywhere.
• Being quick to make decisions and take actions: anticipating and taking charge of unexpected events is a part of a hotel manager’s daily job. There’s no routine and you have to be able to react quickly for each situation.

3 SUBJECTS TAUGHT AT VATEL THAT YOU USE EVERY DAY:

• Administrative controls 
• Multicultural management
• Marketing

YOUR FAVORITE TIMES AT THE HOTEL:

When the sun rises over the Indian Ocean and having lunch of fish and fresh vegetables with my team members.

THREE THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT TANZANIA:

• The environment: I work with my feet in the sand, surrounded by palm trees and the Indian Ocean, with sun year-round and a temperature of 28/30 degrees.
• The mentality: everyone works a lot, with only one day off per week, but everyone is always in a good mood and has a smile on their face. Zanzibar’s philosophy is “Hakuna matata,” which means “Don’t worry, be happy.”
• The activities: I do diving, go on safaris, sail on a catamaran, du snorkeling and swim with the dolphins.

TWO VATELIENS WHO IMPACTED YOU AND WITH WHOM YOU’RE STILL IN TOUCH:

• Pauline Deruda,in the restaurant and catering services in the Rocco Forte Hotel in Brussels
• Lea Gruys, the Guest relations manager at the Mandarin Oriental Paris