Why Taking Care Of Our Team Is Our Quiet Strategy

At Parade, we talk a lot about guest experience, but the truth is that the guest experience begins with the team experience. Projects like Rome are exhilarating, but they’re also demanding. The days are long, the decisions are constant, and the pressure to deliver flawlessly is real. So our first priority is always that the team feels looked after, not just so they can do their jobs brilliantly, but because they deserve to enjoy being there.

We want the atmosphere onsite to feel collaborative and positive, even when things are moving fast. When people feel supported, they support each other. When they feel calm, they create calm. That’s the kind of energy that clients and guests can sense, even if they can’t name it.

We are also, unapologetically, feeders. A well-fed team is a happy team, and a happy team is a better team. In Rome we made sure there were three proper meals a day, but we also put real thought into the snack bar. Beyond the practical energy boost, it’s a signal: we see you, we want you to feel good. And every afternoon, after our intense daily meeting, we had “something”, a small Roman moment to reset. One day it was fresh pizza bianca still warm from the bakery, another day trays of supplì, or maritozzi with cream, cannoli, little panini, even slices of torta della nonna. It sounds small, but those moments mattered. They created rhythm, pleasure, and a sense of togetherness.

Gratitude is another pillar. We hope our team feel how much we appreciate them, because a thank you really does go a long way. There’s something quietly powerful about being seen and acknowledged, it builds motivation, trust and pride in work well done. We feel it ourselves when a client thanks us, and we want to pass that feeling on. Appreciation isn’t a soft extra; it’s part of how high performance sustains itself.

And finally, paying people properly and fairly is fundamental. With the cost of living continuing to rise, we’re very conscious that financial motivation matters alongside everything else. We want our team to feel comfortable, valued and secure, because that’s part of respecting the skill and commitment they bring.

Ultimately, our goal is that being onsite with Parade never feels like just another job. We want it to feel like being part of something long-term and meaningful, a kind of professional family in the truest sense: people who support each other, who trust each other, and who grow together over years. That bond is what makes the work not only possible, but genuinely joyful.