We did not necessarily expect Thierry Marx at the head of an employers’ union as classic as the Union of Trades and Hotel Industries (Umih), attached to the Medef, to the CPME. Thierry Marx is best known for his appearances on TV sets. To The head of Sur Mesure, the restaurant of the Parisian palace Mandarin Oriental, two stars in the Michelin guide, Thierry Marx is one of the pioneers of molecular cuisine. MBut in recent years, the man who grew up in a popular district of Paris has invested a lot in helping disadvantaged young people, particularly to develop apprenticeships. He is a karateka, iconoclast, jack-of-all-trades.
With more than 71% of the vote, Thierry Marx succeeds Roland Heguy, who spent 12 years at the head of this professional federation which represents a key sector of our economy. The hotel and catering industry accounts for 7% of the gross domestic product and almost two million employees.
The projects awaiting Thierry Marx are numerous, but the main one concerns labor shortages. After two years marked by the Covid, confinements, curfews, restaurateurs and hoteliers are having a lot of trouble finding waiters, dishwashers, line managers… The problem goes far beyond salary alone because last year, the union signed an agreement for a 16% increase in the branch. It is the entire organization of the sector that must be rethought, reinventing the profession. In the spirit of the American “Farm to table” movement, Thierry Marx wants, for example, to develop the concept of farm inns by encouraging people to open restaurants and hotels in areas where they do not there is not any.
The other major project concerns inflation because with soaring food prices, the activity is more expensive. Should the margins be reduced? Passing on increases to customers? Not easy in a context where the French pay attention to their expenses, and cut their leisure and pleasure budget. The hotel and catering industry is taking the brunt of the rise in electricity and gas prices to run ovens, fridges, to heat hotels, lodges, etc. Admittedly, there are government aids but that is not always enough, not to mention the work on sobriety. The federation has signed a charter to limit energy consumption. Thierry Marx has four years at the head of Umih to tackle all these subjects.