Staff with passion: the new standard in hospitality

This is how to make your staff your business card

The secret of committed staff? "That's not only in hospitality experience, but mainly in enthusiasm, passion, growth and expertise," says Denzell Denneboom, owner of Served with Passion. Together with Japheth Bediako, he is building a clear vision: "Look beyond experience! Spend time and attention to see someone's true potential. Only then will you ensure passionate and enthusiastic staff."

Served with Passion grew out of Denneboom's love for the hospitality industry. "At 15, I was introduced to the hospitality industry. I grew as a manager on the floor, in the kitchen and behind the bar. This introduced me to all kinds of events and diverse work, from cocktail shaking to project management." 

In 2016, Denneboom met Bediako. "We immediately shared the same vision: from our hospitality experience, we saw that things needed to be different. Acting from passion and fun is central to that." Together, the men started Served with Passion: a partner in hospitality and hospitality staff that connects its employees with the corporate culture of its clients, in order to raise the average hospitality level in the Netherlands.

Clients and core values

Served with Passion's clients are very diverse: from iconic venues like Capital C and Soestdijk Palace to fine dining restaurants, such as Wolf Atelier. But also events by brands like Porsche, Sanpellegrino and Mugler. Bediako: "We also took care of the VIP section of North Sea Jazz in Ahoy Rotterdam. And the well-known Friends of Amstel Live."

Served with Passion is SNA- and ABU-certified and offers reliable, tailor-made solutions. The company supplies staff and focuses on perfect matching of trained employees to clients' unique needs. The hospitality employment agency also helps with project management services. Thus, the entire hospitality process is efficiently managed: from planning to execution. In short: Served with Passion rightly knows how to offer a new standard in hospitality with enthusiastic staff. The company does so on the basis of their four core values: enthusiasm, passion, growth and expertise, which are reflected throughout the entire employee journey.

Enthusiasm: the initial selection process

The fundamentals for good staff? Those, according to Denneboom and Bediako, are enthusiasm and intrinsic motivation. "Enthusiasm is the driving force that connects employees to their work. And that enthusiasm also contributes to the overall atmosphere in a hotel or during events. Guests notice that immediately!"

Getting staff excited starts with a good story. A story you want to tell right from the first conversation with a potential new employee. "This immediately creates a piece of 'feeling' for your organisation in your staff," emphasises Denneboom and Bediako. "So also see an introduction as a first insight into your company story. It is also important not only to look at work experience, but also to see who the person is and discover what motivates them. Look at the application process from a broader perspective. With a bit of people skills, you will immediately discover whether your applicant is enthusiastic and has potential. We find that this approach works well; in fact, we often hear from our clients that our staff are really enthusiastic and you can see that in the reactions of guests."

Passion: creating genuine commitment 

Passion, according to Served with Passion, is the second step. "Make sure employees understand the value and background of the workplace," says Denneboom. "We often see people working somewhere without knowing why that work is special. We always make sure our staff feel connected to the location and the atmosphere behind it."

Served with Passion also works with a unique method: the 1-to-7 approach. "For every seven employees, we always make sure there is one manager or confidant present. This person supports and, if required, takes work off the manager's hands from the hotel or event. That way, you immediately see a piece of passion and enthusiasm reflected, and you ensure that even larger teams work as one."

Growth: room for personal development

The third core value is growth. And that is what Served with Passion offers with tailor-made training courses. "It is not only about professional knowledge and experience, but also about personal development," says Denneboom. Bediako adds: "To achieve this, we deploy internal and external training courses and use tools such as the DISC model. This is because it is important to have a balanced team with different qualities and characteristics. We also have monthly internal training for our team and also provide customised external training on site at clients' premises."

Expertise: the sum of all values

By consistently encouraging enthusiasm, passion and growth, Served with Passion develops a team of true experts. "You cannot push someone into a role that does not fit their talents and personality. We create an environment where everyone can find their own way and strengthen their expertise," says Denneboom.

Served with Passion shows that staff are more than just a face. "Passion takes people beyond job descriptions," Bediako concludes. "We want our people to create an unforgettable experience, both for themselves and for guests." For hoteliers inspired by their approach, only one message applies: look at a person's potential. That's how you create staff with passion.