The go-to platform for hospitality jobs

Dubai - Hosco unites professionals, employers and educational centres in one global network

Almost eight years ago, Olivier Bracard and Carl Julien launched Hosco after identifying the need to improve efficiency in matching qualified professionals and students with hospitality employers.
"Hosco was created with one clear vision: to empower the hospitality industry by uniting all its professionals, employers and educational centres in one global network," says Bracard, co-founder and CEO.
The model quickly expanded, with Hosco becoming an indispensable tool for recruiters to advertise openings, build and strengthen their employer brand and find top hospitality talent globally.
Founded in 2011, Hosco is based in Barcelona, with offices in Geneva and Dubai. Hosco has developed a unique three-sided concept, currently connecting 360,000+ qualified hospitality talents and 260+ schools with 5,000+ companies around the globe.
The combination of audiences, which brings professionals, employers and hospitality institutions together in one community, has allowed the platform to grow into the most trusted source for recruitment as well as employer branding.
"With this ambition always in mind, the company has built the largest professional community specially designed for the hospitality industry with the three-sided concept. It has exclusive partnerships with top schools and universities worldwide, providing an advanced career and alumni management platform. For employers, it offers an effective recruitment solution where they can attract and find the best-qualified talent in one place, saving time and money. At the same time, Hosco supports hospitality students and professionals throughout their career with job opportunities, connections, industry insights and expert advice," Bracard explains.
He says that 40 to 85 per cent of 5-star hotels in key destinations such as Paris, London, Geneva, Barcelona and Dubai have already adopted Hosco's recruitment solution.
"We opened an office in Dubai in April 2016 to support hospitality employers recruit the best talent in the most efficient manner. And it has been an exciting and very successful journey for us. The thriving hospitality industry in the UAE, especially in the luxury segment, has helped us grow at a very fast pace. For instance, currently, more than 50 per cent of all 5-star hotels in Dubai have partnered with us to access top professionals in the region as well as international profiles," he says.
"We will continue to grow in the Middle Eastern and Asian markets, as well as provide the tool in multiple languages to better support all our multinational clients," he adds.
Hospitality is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries on earth. However, it's also one of the most fragmented sectors and is currently suffering from a talent shortage.
"As the industry evolves and changes, so are the expectations the new generation has from the sector. The biggest challenge for the industry is to be able to attract and retain talent, as hospitality profiles are more and more requested by other industries, thanks to their specialised set of skills. Some regions and locations have more difficulties than others to attract talent. Nonetheless, in the case of a city like Dubai, it is the opposite. The investment and development of luxury services across the region has made this location one of the most in demand among job seekers all over the world," says Bracard.
Hosco recently secured $6.2 million in its latest funding round led by Pan-European VC Nauta Capital, along with existing investors Athos Capital, and Business Angels joining.
"The financial injection will be used to accelerate growth in all facets of the business, involving a strong focus on product development and expansion of Hosco's global reach," says Julien, Hosco's co-founder and COO.
"Plans involve the launch of offices in the Americas in the first half of 2019 and to increase the team strength to 180 in the next 24 months," he adds.
"We are thrilled to join such a passionate team on their journey to empower an industry that represents 10 per cent of global employment," says Jordi Vinas, general partner at Nauta Capital.
"The investment fits with our thesis about disruption in large, non-efficient human capital spaces, as Hosco has become the go-to place for many in hospitality. We are excited to contribute our resources, expertise and network to propel Hosco's aggressive expansion plans," says Vinas.
Derek Pilcher, Hosco's commercial director, claims that Hosco's value proposition is unique in the hospitality segment as it is a professional network specially designed for the industry connecting its professionals, employers and educational centres in a global platform.
"There is no doubt that one of the keys to Hosco's success thus far has been its focus on quality and the strength of its relationships with leading hospitality schools and colleges worldwide. The increasing emphasis placed on attracting and engaging with high-quality talent by local and global hospitality employers provides Hosco with a significant growth opportunity moving forward," he adds.
- riaz@khaleejtimes.com