Twelve team members from across Oakland Care have experienced luxury hospitality training as part of the care home provider’s latest initiative with the five-star Cliveden House Hotel in Berkshire.
Cliveden House, which is operated by Iconic Luxury Hotels, is a stately home with an illustrious history having been built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham for his mistress. Now, the famous Grade I listed building is a five-star hotel enjoyed by those in search of a country getaway, equipped with award-winning dining, luxurious spa facilities, within 376 acres of magnificent National Trust gardens and woodlands.
Last year a dozen team members from the leading care home provider were given the opportunity to train and learn from the five-star hotel’s specialist teams over the course of two days. This included supporting in the kitchen, housekeeping, spa, and hosting of events at Cliveden House.
The partnership was born out of Oakland Care’s vision to further elevate the hospitality skills of its team members, with a focus on bolstering the level of person-centred care and luxury support they offer to residents.
Following the success of the initial collaboration, Oakland Care and Cliveden House have reignited their partnership for a fresh round of training. Over the course of a day the latest cohort of team members from Oakland Care took part in a range of sessions centred on customer service, food and beverage operations, and event operations.
In particular, the focus was on front-of-house operations, with a tailored emphasis on delivering luxury service throughout the sessions.
Drawing on this experience, the team will apply, share, and pool their learnings with others at the care homes as part of a growing number of five-star trained ‘hospitality influencers’ strategically positioned across Oakland Care.
Stephen Eshmade, Oakland Care’s Head of Hospitality who led the initiative, said:
“To me, hospitality transcends merely service. It is about providing exceptional care and ensuring individuals feel not only welcomed, but also deeply comfortable and secure. During our visit, the remarkable team at Cliveden House exemplified the significance of seamless teamwork, enveloping us in a warm embrace and demonstrating the power of collective effort in pursuing a common goal.
“Paired with a Cliveden House team member, the Oakland Care team excelled in understanding how to ensure guests felt well taken care of, while delivering top-notch luxury service.
“With a butler’s tour, a tour of the iconic Lady Astor suite, and a show around the iconic Cliveden Spa, the team immersed themselves in the experience and really found value in the opportunity. While learning about the famous Profumo affair and other aspects of the estate, the team was completely captivated. Leaving Cliveden, I felt an immense sense of pride in witnessing how dedicated the team was throughout the day and how they exemplified Oakland Care’s ethos of being much more than just a care provider.”
Speaking about the collaboration, Joana Pinyol, People & Culture Partner at Cliveden House, said:
“It is truly heartwarming to see passionate individuals who are so like-minded in their desire to provide outstanding support. Hospitality means so much more than just providing a service; it’s about
making people feel at home. At Cliveden, we strive for that. We want people to feel like this is their home, and no amount of ‘luxury’ service can outweigh that.”
Oakland Care experiencing luxury hospitality training at Cliveden House