Experience at other hotels is big plus

Flexible freelancers crucial for balanced workforce

With staff shortages, especially at peak times, becoming the rule rather than the exception, Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre has found a solution in working with freelancers through platforms such as YoungOnes. David Kort, Restaurant & Bar manager at Mövenpick, and Nelson Cortes, a freelancer working through YoungOnes, among others at Mövenpick, share their experiences about the benefits and challenges of this collaboration.

Nelson Cortes (26) has been working as a freelancer at various hotels and restaurants in the Amsterdam area for over five years. Sometimes he works in breakfast service, another time in banqueting. For Cortes, freelancing through a platform like YoungOnes offers the flexibility to choose his own working hours and workplaces. "I like that I can choose when I work," he says. "Sometimes I work five days a week, sometimes less, depending on what I need and what I want to do," Cortes says. For him, the opportunity to work in different places is a big plus: "You learn something different everywhere. Sometimes I work at five-star hotels, sometimes in restaurants, and each place has different ways of working. It keeps the work varied and interesting."

Motivated people

David Kort, employed at Mövenpick for 14 years and before that with extensive experience in various catering businesses, sees the flexibility offered by YoungOnes as an important addition to his permanent team at Mövenpick. "During peak times, we need extra hands, while the rest of the week we don't need extra people," he explains. "Thanks to platforms like YoungOnes, we can very specifically deploy freelancers for those busy moments. For us, it is ideal to work with motivated people who are flexibly employable and often bring experience from other hotels."

Cooperation between permanent staff and flex workers generally goes well, although Kort knows that the difference in pay sometimes raises raised eyebrows. "Freelancers are paid slightly better, but on the other hand they have less security and have to take care of their own tax affairs," he says. "As long as you explain that well to everyone, and I do, everyone also understands that we all have the same goal: to offer guests the best possible experience," he says. A big advantage of working with trusted freelancers that Kort mentions is that freelancers like Cortes bring new insights and practices from other hotels. "Nelson has already gained a lot of experience in different five-star hotels, and sometimes he brings new ideas that we can also use," he says. "That helps us to get better and better." As examples, Kort mentions working in pairs, which makes work more enjoyable, and a more effective way of setting tables.

The best of you

For Cortes, the work also offers personal benefits. A native of Aruba, he particularly appreciates the international nature of work at Mövenpick. "There are a lot of guests here from the United States," he says. I enjoy speaking English and hearing people's stories. It makes me feel like I am experiencing a piece of the world here in Amsterdam," he says with a smile.

Still, being a freelancer is not always easy. "You have to keep proving yourself," says Cortes. "Every new place takes some getting used to, and sometimes you do feel a bit insecure." "But that's also one of the things I like: facing the challenge, getting to know new people, and showing the best of yourself every time."

For Mövenpick, this flexible collaboration offers an opportunity to ease the workload for permanent staff. Kort: "It's nice that we can work with flexible workers to keep the work manageable for our permanent staff. That way, we can keep everyone happy and ensure a good working atmosphere."