BE HER GUEST
Sofitel Manila finds another visionary in Anne-Sophie Hurtaud, the luxury resort hotel’s new Director of Food and Beverage
Anne-Sophie Hurtaud had always known that she would eventually end up in the food and beverage industry ever since she was young. Her uncle previously held the position of Food and Beverage Director at the Houston branch of Sofitel in Texas. She recalls, “I do still remember the moment I walked into the lobby—I looked up and saw the spectacular interiors and surroundings of the place and by then I knew, one day, I will be working in a similar property. Afterward, through the years, I visited him every holiday and he took the time to show me around, explained to me how things worked, and I simply loved it.” Determined to pursue a passion she discovered as early as 10 years old, Anne-Sophie put a lot of effort into advancing her studies—an internship at 14 and ultimately, a degree in hospitality.
Helming all restaurant operations including Sofitel’s flagship restaurant Spiral as well as Le Bar, Sunset Bar, Snaps, Room Service and Banqueting, Anne-Sophie ensures that guests are always served an unparalleled experience like no other. This includes working on developing concepts and promotions that are aligned with current market trends. This is something that she finds joy working with, “I love marketing and design so this has been my focus at the moment—to refresh the identity of the outlets. Sofitel is one of the oldest hotels in Manila but it does not limit us from creating interesting and vibrant offerings.”
After the launch of Sofitel’s Sunset Bar, Anne-Sophie and the team are developing their other bars and restaurants—La Veranda, Le Bar and Snaps Sports Bar, continually improving and innovating, to give each concept an identity that is distinct and relatable. Thus, guests will be thrilled to find out that the Sofitel has a lot in store for the future. La Veranda, Spiral’s art-deco inspired Parisian bar, is being transformed into a gin and tonic bar. Le Bar, the lobby bistro, is strengthening its bar list with whiskey-based signature drinks. And Snaps Sports Bar furthers the experience with the hotel’s signature craft beer in addition to local and imported beers. She adds, “Likewise, at our own flagship restaurant, Spiral, we are constantly showcasing its 21 ateliers with new innovative concepts and food promotions, one of which is a Thai food festival in partnership with one of
our Accor sister hotel properties in Thailand. We also just recently welcomed a new Thai Chef and Chinese Chef who has a lot of new menus to offer especially for banquet events like weddings or Ting Hun ceremonies.”
Anne-Sophie shares how competitive the hospitality industry is, with several properties opening not just in the Philippines, but also in other parts of the world. The challenge is, she says, is in leaving a lasting impression on their guests. Consistency and differentiation are essential in keeping the ever-changing market interested. “I have found that both these points are very hard to achieve among all the other countries I have worked in and this can only be done with a very strong team behind the scenes. It requires a lot of determination, patience, assertiveness, and an open mind. As a Director of Food and Beverage, I truly believe that you need to be on top of your game at all times and you need to know the trend—what works and what does not—so you can use them as insights in your daily operations and be successful,” she explains.
Empowered to be the best in her field, AnneSophie is inspired by the fact that a woman in her position is still a rarity, even with how progressive the global landscape is becoming. She proudly says, “I was often told that I was very young, that women usually don’t stand this type of position because it’s a man’s job. This has always motivated me to prove them wrong, and I’m very proud to be a leader in my industry.” In the span of her career, so many lessons have been learned along the way. She lists organization, determination, and people skills as essentials in the success she and her team has had so far.
It’s been only two months since Anne-Sophie landed in Manila, having lived in Thailand,
Vietnam, Laos, and China previously. But so far, she is enjoying the experience. She mentions shopping as a hobby (emphasizing her love for shoes), as well as discovering new dining haunts. Thai boxing keeps her calm, and a good glass of red wine is a tradition after a long day at work. A meaningful life is one that has a goal. She says, “I always had one which is to become a General Manager one day, and I am living my life towards that dream. Once I reach this goal (fingers crossed), I will create a new one. On a more personal note, life is only meaningful if you enjoy and share it with your friends and family. I’m looking forward to creating my own family one day—I just haven’t had the time yet.”