The Talent Connector: Lisa El Shabasi Perfecting Luxury Hospitality Hiring

The Talent Hub connects top-tier talent with elite hospitality brands

Lisa El Shabasi, Founder of The Talent Hub, began her hospitality journey as a waitress in Germany before working in Spain, Egypt, and Greece as a Fitness Instructor and Kids Club Attendant. Her firsthand experience highlighted the vital role frontline employees play in guest satisfaction, inspiring her to pursue a Tourism Management degree. Curiosity about recruitment led her to focus on HR, and she eventually moved to the UAE in 2017. She launched her HR career with Hilton in 2018 and, after a maternity break in 2023, has returned to the hospitality industry with renewed passion.

“Recruitment has been one of the most interesting and rewarding functions within HR. While working in HR and leading hotel recruitment, I often worked directly with recruitment agencies. Although I partnered with some great agencies, I always felt there was room for more, especially looking at the luxury hospitality sector. It’s a unique and demanding segment, and the standards for employees are incredibly high,” said El Shabasi.

The Talent Hub
She strongly believes that recruitment is a mutual process. As an agency, it’s her responsibility to meet her clients’ requirements, but she also places equal importance on the candidate’s journey. “I truly believe that when both parties are satisfied, it creates a thriving environment for everyone involved. I find great fulfilment in creating opportunities that are meaningful for my candidates and following their journey as they succeed. That’s what makes this line of work so rewarding for me and that’s why I decided to make my passion a profession.”

Industry experience has taught El Shabasi to meet with clients in person to truly understand what makes them an employer of choice, as well as to consider the candidate’s background and to place them with companies she believes in.

She also has no limitations when it comes to geography or position levels. “I work globally, sourcing talents from countries from all over the world, and I’m supporting the recruitment for all positions, whether for career starters or senior management,” she said.

El Shabasi wants to be a partner that luxury hospitality establishments can turn to without any hesitation, that supports all vacancies and can be trusted to represent them with a strong sense of responsibility. Working in hotels, she felt there was room for agencies that truly understand the specific requirements of luxury hospitality and are committed to contributing to an exceptional candidate and journey. My goal is to offer that level of expertise and reliability, ensuring that both clients and candidates receive the highest level of service.

Hospitality Industry Insight
El Shabasi said the job market offers plenty of opportunities for exceptional talent. The industry itself has a relatively high turnover, and the competition among employers can be fierce. This is one of the key reasons recruitment agencies can be such a valuable support when it comes to hiring in this sector. Agencies not only help streamline the hiring process but also connect companies with the right candidates who might otherwise be harder to find.

Some of the key hiring trends in high-end hospitality she has noticed include companies increasingly integrating technology into the recruitment process, whether it’s through automated résumé screening, digital onboarding practices, or conducting initial interviews via video recordings.

Additionally, she noted it’s encouraging to witness the growing demand for ethical recruitment practices, such as supporting local hiring initiatives and promoting diversity and inclusion. These trends are making the industry more inclusive and socially responsible, which is something she believes in.

“Another, I believe great, trend is in promoting internal hires and internal promotions. Companies started to focus a lot on their internal talent development and filling vacancies internally. That contributes positively to retention and makes employers more attractive,” she added.

The Ideal Candidate
In terms of matching the right candidate to the business, she begins with an onsite visit to the client. “I enjoy gaining a deeper understanding of the work environment, the company culture, and learning more about the business. Meeting HR professionals and Hiring Managers in person is a great opportunity to understand what makes each company an employer of choice. Once I have that insight and after receiving the vacancies, I create tailored job advertisements and start reviewing applications. I also spend a lot of time head-hunting and searching for talent globally. Finally, I conduct in-depth interviews with every candidate to ensure they’re the right fit and to set the expectations, before presenting them to my client.”

The ethos of “Hire for talent, train for skills” is one that resonates with El Shabasi. She noted that hospitality is a field that requires soft skills – qualities like empathy, communication, and intuition – which are much harder to teach than technical knowledge.

“To be successful, you need a passion for what you do; only then can you create an authentic and memorable experience for guests. The ability to think outside the box and an exceptional attention to detail allow for the innovation required to offer highly personalised service. Just as guests seek that extra touch during their stay, we seek that same ‘extra’ in every candidate we consider. We look for those who go above and beyond, those who can create the desire to return and who bring something special to the table – because that’s what sets great hospitality apart,” she added.

She noted that during the application process, it’s important to understand that the application process begins with the very first line of communication, and El Shabasi advises job seekers to approach their applications with the same attentiveness they’d use when interacting with a guest.

“Doing the necessary research is key. Just as we emphasise knowing our guests, job seekers should take the time to understand who they are applying to. Addressing an email or job application to a specific person, writing a personalised message instead of using a standard one, and connecting with industry professionals for recommendations are all great ways to stand out. And, of course, attention to detail is crucial – having a flawless professional résumé can make all the difference. As well as preparation ahead of an interview, like reading about the company and being generally prepared and having the grooming on point,” she added.

To anyone who wants to break into the hospitality industry, El Shabasi feels they’ve chosen a fantastic work environment because hospitality is like no other industry, and the people in it are equally unique. Granted, it’s a demanding field, but it’s also incredibly rewarding and positive. People in this industry tend to connect well with one another, and the opportunities to learn from each other and succeed together are endless. It’s a dynamic, collaborative environment that offers both personal and professional growth.
El Shabasi believes it’s crucial to set the right expectations from the very beginning. Hospitality isn’t a typical 9-to-5 work environment, and most people who are passionate about the industry understand that. However, it’s important to clearly explain to candidates what the job will entail so they can be properly prepared and set up for success.

“I always say that preparation is half the way to success and being transparent about what the role demands is a key part of that. After that, hospitality offers fantastic growth opportunities and comes with many other great benefits. We play an important role in setting candidates up for success by ensuring they have the right skills and qualities and by setting the right expectations from the start. Ultimately, I also believe that companies have a responsibility to provide the necessary on-the-job training and offer learning and development opportunities. These are key to helping talents grow and eventually shape them into future leaders in the hospitality industry.”

Future outlook
El Shabasi sees great potential for the hospitality industry in the future, with so many exciting projects on the horizon, especially here in this region. This means there will be a lot of focus on finding the right talent and creating plenty of career opportunities for professionals. At the same time, guest expectations are becoming increasingly demanding, which makes it even more important to build high-performing teams that are not only able to meet these expectations but also exceed them. The future of hospitality looks promising, and the need for exceptional talent will continue to grow.

“My goal is to create meaningful opportunities for my candidates and drive success for my clients. Helping talents achieve their dream job or take the next step in their career is incredibly rewarding. I was recently in touch with a candidate who became a Marketing Manager. I hired her as an intern a few years ago, and she always tells me that I played a part in her success. It’s a feeling that is truly rewarding for me,” she said.

While she doesn’t have fixed plans at the moment, El Shabasi’s goal is to become one of the go-to partners in luxury hospitality recruitment. “In the long term, I aim to expand the agency and potentially add other services to the portfolio. I’m focused on growing and adapting to the needs of the industry, ensuring we continue to provide exceptional value to both our clients and candidates.”

For more information, visit The Talent Hub.