Rachel McHugh refocused the Sonesta International Hotels’ TA team to support significant business expansion, developing the organization’s employer branding and optimizing the onboarding experience to recruit and retain employees in a competitive market.
By Maggie Mancini
Rachel McHugh, global head of talent acquisition at Sonesta International Hotels, has led the organization through a period of significant growth. Since 2020, McHugh refocused the company’s talent acquisition team to support Sonesta’s expansion from 80 hotels to more than 1,100 across eight countries through a series of mergers and acquisitions. During that time, she built a robust talent acquisition infrastructure that helped recruit and retain talent in a competitive market.
Additionally, McHugh led the development of Sonesta’s employer value proposition (EVP) and worked to refresh the company’s careers website and social media presence to enhance visibility and strengthen the company’s reputation throughout its expansion.
As the leader of talent acquisition for the company, McHugh rolled out a CRM system to improve collaboration among more than 50 HR professionals, led the implementation of a diverse talent pipeline, and led the company’s first formal internship program.
Under McHugh’s leadership, Sonesta optimized its onboarding experience to include personalized welcome kits, engagement activities, regular check-ins, and a supportive launch for new hires during their first 90 days. Through these initiatives, McHugh helped increase candidate engagement, filled talent gaps, and enhanced its brand messaging.
As a result, Rachel McHugh won the HRO Today Association North America Award for HR Excellence in Hospitality.