In a proactive move to source new talent for his expanding regional hospitality portfolio, veteran hotelier Andrew Michelin stepped directly into the recruitment process this week, joining his leadership team at the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) Hospitality Job Fair.
Michelin’s growing hospitality group manages four distinct properties across the twin-island nation: the award-winning COCOS Hotel, Keyonna Beach, Conch Beach Cabins, and the Hawksbill Resort, which the group handles management and marketing operations for. For the industry leader, attending the job fair in person is far more than a routine hiring exercise—it is a strategic effort to find candidates who align with the unique guest-centric identity his properties have cultivated over years of operation.
Unlike many recruitment drives that prioritize academic credentials first, Michelin’s group takes a different approach. While formal degrees are viewed as a valuable bonus, hiring managers center their search on a set of core soft skills that they argue cannot be taught through traditional education. Inger Challenger, Operations and Guest Manager at Keyonna Beach, outlined the top qualities the group prioritizes: strong personal character, an innate eagerness to learn, self-motivation, a natural focus on customer service, and long-term commitment to the role.
Michelin has issued an open invitation to any person who believes they possess these foundational traits to apply for open roles across the group’s properties, even if they lack extensive formal industry experience. The ABHTA’s chief, Patrice Simon, has praised the job fair initiative as a critical link between local workers and growing hospitality businesses, noting that this year’s event drew widespread participation from dozens of local tourism businesses seeking to fill open roles and expand their teams.
For Michelin, the hiring process extends far beyond checking boxes to fill empty positions. His goal is to identify candidates with the right inherent attitude and personality to thrive in guest-facing roles, then invest in comprehensive training to help them grow long-term careers within the group. His in-person presence at the job fair allowed him to connect directly with applicants, gaining a first-hand sense of their character that cannot be gleaned from a resume alone. For candidates still building their professional experience, Michelin’s message is clear: professional skills can be developed through structured training, but the customer-first attitude that defines exceptional hospitality must come from within.