Bastien Blanc is passionate about the hospitality industry, its development, quality of offering and advancing the talent of tomorrow. It is unsurprisingly what led him to be voted as one of the Top 100 most inspirational leaders of Global Hospitality and Travel in 2023, having continuously supported talent development.
He has been living in the MEA since 2009, with a distinguished hospitality career spanning over 30 years and 4 continents, trailblazing new markets. His leadership and directorial positions have been at some of the world’s leading hotel operators including Interstate, FRHI, ACCOR, and IHG, driving luxury led portfolios.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
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Bastien defines himself as a “Passionate failed Chef” and has always kept a keen interest into the culinary art. His passion for the industry started in the kitchen of his grandmother where he met his first saucepans and fell in love with the creation and the caring of people. He started his career on the culinary side before moving to the service side and grow up the ranks. Growing through the ranks from being a commis chef to joining the C-suite, his focus has always been a quest to learn. From learning various disciplines throughout his ascension to learning about cultures traveling across continents to develop his EQ abilities. All came together to become a Hotelier with a keen understanding of the industry.
THE JOURNEY
Bastien’s hunger for discovery brought him across the oceans, as well as trailblazing new markets. Having now lived in 13 countries, he started with Western Europe and Americas, before aiming towards Eastern Europe, Asia and MEA. Those travels have not only strengthened his hospitality skills accross operations, commercial and development, but beyond it led to building a warm and inclusive leadership, focused on success with people.
ADVOCATE OF LUXURY WITH STYLE
Bastien has been managing a various number of portfolios across the world, with brands such as Sofitel, Fairmont, Raffles, InterContinental and more, which have brought him recognition due to an obsession to develop guests experience around the 5 senses, covering all aspects of the guest journey, creating memories with enthusiasm.
THE CREATION OF A NEW TYPE OF HOSPITALITY
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Bastien co-created in Eastern Europe the Hospitality group TroKadero Hospitality Global , which has been growing internationally with presence in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. The focus has been to provide a unique toolbox of 360-degree hospitality, bringing international expertise with local understanding, around four pillar, hotel management, asset management, advisory and real estate.
PEOPLE FIRST
What differentiate Bastien from others in the industry has been his constant focus on ensuring the development of people around him. From giving opportunities for international careers to many team members, as growing a succession talent pipeline in Middle East, or more recently putting in place a training plan to bring expertise qualifications to KSA supporting the tourism growth, he considers that taking care of the next generation is not a job but a duty, doing the right thing.
