Von Essen's Seaham Hall uses Twitter to find new chef

Von Essen’s luxury hotel Seaham Hall has launched a unique head hunt for a new head chef – using social networking tool Twitter. 

Seaham Hall, in Country Durham, is asking Tweeters to submit a “twitticulum vitae" recommending a restaurant or chef based on their own experiences of eating out. By using an application TwitHawk, which allows the management team to track key phrases and words, Tweeters’ positive experiences are picked up by the management team and tweeters are invited to submit their ideas.

The site was launched on Friday and already managers at the hotel have been in touch with a Michelin-starred chef who is interested in the role.

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."

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 and become part of food history in the process."

The best entry will win a slot at the recruitment day, with the nominator of the winning chef receiving a complimentary stay at the hotel.  

Tweeters can keep up to date with reviews at www.twitter.com/5starseaham

By Katherine Alano

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