Hosco sees multi-million dollar investments lead to hospitality job growth

Just under a decade ago in 2011, Hosco hit the Barcelona market after Olivier Bracard and Carl Julien realized the need for solutions in connecting companies and businesses to hospitality talent.

"Hosco was created with one clear vision: to empower the hospitality industry by uniting all its professionals, employers and educational centres in one global network," says Bracard, Co-founder and CEO.

To their surprise, the business grew quickly and turned into an important piece of the puzzle for many recruiters looking to advertise openings, empower company branding, and seek the talent they need on a worldwide scale.

Now with company offices in Geneva and Dubai, Hosco has created a special triangular concept to connect more than 360,000 hospitality workers with 260 schools and 5,000 companies across the world.

"With this ambition always in mind, the company has built the largest professional community specially designed for the hospitality industry with the three-sided concept. It has exclusive partnerships with top schools and universities worldwide, providing an advanced career and alumni management platform. For employers, it offers an effective recruitment solution where they can attract and find the best-qualified talent in one place, saving time and money. At the same time, Hosco supports hospitality students and professionals throughout their career with job opportunities, connections, industry insights and expert advice," Bracard explains.

According to Bracard, approximately 40 - 85% of five star hotels in major holiday spots like Paris, London, Geneva, Barcelona and Dubai have already transitioned to Hosco's recruitment solution.

"We opened an office in Dubai in April 2016 to support hospitality employers recruit the best talent in the most efficient manner. And it has been an exciting and very successful journey for us. The thriving hospitality industry in the UAE, especially in the luxury segment, has helped us grow at a very fast pace. For instance, currently, more than 50 per cent of all 5-star hotels in Dubai have partnered with us to access top professionals in the region as well as international profiles," he says.

"We will continue to grow in the Middle Eastern and Asian markets, as well as provide the tool in multiple languages to better support all our multinational clients," he adds.

Out of the major industries, hospitality is one of the pack leaders and fastest-growing - but it's also splintered, and in desperate need of talent. 

"As the industry evolves and changes, so are the expectations the new generation has from the sector. The biggest challenge for the industry is to be able to attract and retain talent, as hospitality profiles are more and more requested by other industries, thanks to their specialised set of skills. Some regions and locations have more difficulties than others to attract talent. Nonetheless, in the case of a city like Dubai, it is the opposite. The investment and development of luxury services across the region has made this location one of the most in demand among job seekers all over the world," says Bracard.

Hosco recently secured $6.2 million in its latest funding round spearheaded by Pan-European VC Nauta Capital, alongside with prior investors Athos Capital, and Business Angels.

"The financial injection will be used to accelerate growth in all facets of the business, involving a strong focus on product development and expansion of Hosco's global reach," says Julien, Hosco's co-founder and COO.

"Plans involve the launch of offices in the Americas in the first half of 2019 and to increase the team strength to 180 in the next 24 months," he adds.

"We are thrilled to join such a passionate team on their journey to empower an industry that represents 10 per cent of global employment," says Jordi Vinas, general partner at Nauta Capital.

"The investment fits with our thesis about disruption in large, non-efficient human capital spaces, as Hosco has become the go-to place for many in hospitality. We are excited to contribute our resources, expertise and network to propel Hosco's aggressive expansion plans," says Vinas.

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