The Tweet is on to find the best chef (From The Northern Echo)

The Tweet is on to find the best chef

12:09pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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A FIVE-STAR hotel has two million potential headhunters tracking down a new head chef after enlisting Twitter users as its main recruitment strategy.

Seaham Hall, in County Durham, is asking users of the social networking site across the country to recommend a chef or restaurant based on their own experiences of eating out.

Chefs are also being encouraged to use the site, which was launched on Friday, to apply.

The von Essen groupowned retreat is hoping that the same recommendations come up repeatedly, helping it to narrow its search.

The hotel, which is using the site as its primary means of recruitment, has already been in touch with a Michelinstarred chef who is interested in the role.

It comes as the 19-bedroom luxury hotel aims to win back its Michelin star which it held for three years before the departure of head chef Kenny Atkinson to Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, in November.

Sam Hall, marketing manager for Seaham Hall, said: “We have some great recommendations already in the first few days and some topcalibre chefs who have been in touch.

“It is really working for us and is something new. We have a potential two million Twitter users in the UK who are head-hunting a chef for us.”

Bernard Bloodworth, general manager of Seaham Hall, said: “We firmly believe the customer is always right and we want them to name the best person for the job.

“The potential number of tweeters makes this the most comprehensive search for a chef ever undertaken.

“Many people dine out and afterwards many people Tweet about the place they’ve just eaten.

“What we want to see is consistency – a particular restaurant or chef’s name coming up time and time again, so we can set the ball in motion.”

Von Essen executive head chef James Parkinson said: “Our food philosophy across our collection of hotels is to ensure that customer’s feedback always comes first.

“That is why using Twitter is so exciting– it gives the general public the opportunity to choose our next top chef.”

The new approach to recruitment is believed to be the first to use an application called TwitHawk, a marketing tool that can find people talking about dining experiences on Twitter and ask them to contribute what it calls a “twitticulum vitae”.

Twitter users will have to limit their review to 140 characters, but the nominator of the chef who is eventually employed will receive a complimentary stay at the hotel.

The Twitter address for people to send reviews or name chefs is Twitter/5starseaham.