Gecko Hospitality and Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions Expand Talent Partnership Beyond the Hire

Collaboration enables Gecko Hospitality to offer ESource professional development resources to clients, connecting recruitment with continued workforce development

CAPE CORAL, Florida – Gecko Hospitality is expanding its approach to hospitality talent through a partnership with Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions, enabling Gecko to offer Escoffier Global’s ESource professional development platform to its clients and extending the talent conversation beyond recruitment and placement.

The collaboration addresses a broader challenge facing hospitality organizations today: finding exceptional talent is only one part of building a strong team. Developing and retaining that talent after the hire has become equally important, particularly for independent and boutique properties that may not have the same internal training infrastructure or leadership bench as larger hotel organizations.

“For boutique properties, every leadership hire has an outsized impact,” said Stacy Pilkington, Senior Recruiting Partner, Global Luxury at Gecko Hospitality. “When teams are leaner and the culture is highly connected to the people leading it, losing a key individual can affect far more than one position. Investing in development helps protect the culture and leadership continuity you worked so hard to build.”

Through the partnership, Gecko Hospitality can offer ESource to its clients as an additional workforce development resource at no cost. Hospitality organizations working with Gecko can access Escoffier Global’s on-demand professional development platform to support onboarding, skill development, leadership growth, and retention across their teams.

For independent and boutique hospitality organizations, this provides access to structured professional development without requiring the internal training infrastructure of a large hotel brand. It also allows Gecko to support clients across a broader talent lifecycle, from identifying the right leaders to helping organizations invest in the people already on their teams.

The relationship represents an evolution of the traditional recruiting model. Rather than viewing a successful placement as the end of the talent conversation, Gecko sees recruitment, development, and retention as increasingly connected parts of the same strategy.

“A placement that doesn’t last isn’t really a successful placement,” Pilkington added. “Having spent 25 years on the operations side of hospitality, I’ve seen firsthand the difference professional development can make to engagement, performance, and retention. The opportunity to continue investing in people after the search is complete is incredibly valuable.”

The partnership with Escoffier Global complements Gecko Hospitality’s broader focus on building long-term talent solutions across the hospitality industry, including its specialized work within luxury, boutique, lifestyle, and independent hospitality.

By connecting recruiting expertise with continued learning opportunities, Gecko Hospitality and Escoffier Global aim to help hospitality organizations build stronger teams at every stage, from finding the right talent to developing and retaining the people who will shape their future.

About Gecko Hospitality

Founded in 2000, Gecko Hospitality specializes in management and executive recruiting across the hospitality industry. Through a global network of specialized recruiters with firsthand industry experience, Gecko Hospitality connects hospitality organizations with leadership talent across hotels, resorts, restaurants, private clubs, and related hospitality sectors.

About Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions

Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions (Escoffier Global) is a global culinary and hospitality workforce development firm helping organizations hire, develop, and retain talent. Its employer-focused solutions include on-demand training, Work & Learn programs, customized training and consulting services, and culinary and hospitality recruiting resources designed to help organizations build stronger, more sustainable workforces.

About ESource

ESource is Escoffier Global’s on-demand professional development platform built specifically for the culinary and hospitality workforce. With 300+ video resources, self-directed micro-courses, comprehensive courses, assessments, and digital badges, ESource brings structured, practical learning directly into the workplace.

Its mobile-friendly format allows employees to build skills when and where they need them, while giving employers a scalable way to strengthen onboarding, develop emerging talent, create meaningful growth opportunities, and support employee engagement and retention. Select ESource learning modules are also approved for American Culinary Federation Continuing Education Hours.