Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum started with a few shifts during the Tilburg Fair. It went so well, that they now only work with FreeFlexers through Temper. We asked François Valks, hospitality manager at Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum, about his experiences with the platform.
Tell us about Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum.
"Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum is a 4-star hotel in the centre of Tilburg. The hotel has 108 rooms, 4 meeting rooms, a CitySauna and 2 restaurants. What makes the hotel unique is that 80 out of 108 rooms feature a picture from the Tilburg Twilight series. Tilburg Twilight is a unique series of photographs of historical cityscapes in Tilburg that connects the hotel to the city. Besides my job as hospitality manager at Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum, I am also hospitality manager at ibis Tilburg and Grand Café Puur. These 3 locations all work with FreeFlexers through your platform."
Why did you start working with FreeFlexers through our platform?
"Everyone in hospitality needs a 15% to 20% flexible shell. Before this, we worked with a temp agency that we paid a fixed amount per month. This way we had no control over which flex workers came to work, and therefore no insight into their qualities. Last year we put a few jobs on your platform as a test during the Tilburg Fair. We liked that so much that we now only work with Temper."
What do you like about our platform?
"The flexibility, flexpools and hourly rates. In fact, you are now in control of these 3 pillars. The flexibility is very nice in peak periods. We can switch quickly and put jobs on the platform. We also see FreeFlexers more often because of flexpool. Since the start on the platform we have varied the rates to find the ideal hourly rate. Now we know exactly what hourly rate we are getting a real winner for."
You now have a flexpool of 40 FreeFlexers. Does this affect the number of applications to a shift?
"Absolutely. Especially in housekeeping, many jobs are picked up by FreeFlexers from the flexpool. The moment there are new jobs online again, we also share that in this flexpools. For most jobs we have enabled 'automatic acceptance' for FreeFlexers from flexpool , but not for all of them. This is because this way we can also get to know new FreeFlexers and possibly invite them to the flexpool."
Many FreeFlexers want to work for you. Why is that?
"We treat FreeFlexers like our own staff. When FreeFlexers come to work for us for the first time, they get a tour of all the departments in our company. The fact that a FreeFlexer comes to work in the service department does not mean that he or she does not want to work with us in housekeeping. This is how we try to give FreeFlexers the opportunity to choose from more jobs in our hotel. We also pay the invoices quickly, and they really like that!"
Would you recommend our platform?
"Yes, the platform is very easy to use for your flexible shell, especially with the new Balance Employment Market Act (WAB) coming up. Many more companies should work with your platform. The more companies work with your platform, the more FreeFlexers will be added. Ultimately, your flexible shell then becomes even bigger."
Do you also work at Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum, ibis Tilburg or Grand Café Puur? Sign up quickly and start this week.
Would you like to use FreeFlexers super easy for your restaurant, pub or hotel through our platform? Check out the possibilities here.
