How We Built Our Dream Team in Madagascar: Recruiting the Right Way
When we first started our operations in Madagascar, we relied on personal contacts and grassroots communication. In each city, we had small WhatsApp groups where I posted requests from clients, and local contacts responded with offers and supplier information. This setup was fast to start, but it quickly reached its limits as the volume of bookings grew and client expectations rose.
From Informal Groups to Professional Booking Managers
By early December, we transitioned to a more structured model. We introduced dedicated booking managers who could both chat with clients and coordinate directly with suppliers across the country. This shift was crucial, as speed is one of the top priorities for our clients. They expect fast replies and instant offers — and our new system delivers exactly that.
Finding the Right Profiles: Multilingual and Multitasking
The role of a booking manager is not easy. They need to chat fluently in English and French with international clients while also negotiating with local suppliers in Malagasy. On top of that, they must be responsive, tech-savvy, and reliable — with access to a laptop, stable internet, electricity, and a quiet work-from-home environment.
We quickly realized that personal recommendations weren’t enough to find such rare profiles. Early on, we faced high turnover and frequent onboarding, which became overwhelming in terms of time and training. That’s when we knew it was time to professionalize our recruitment process.
Smarter Recruitment: Facebook Ads and WhatsApp Funnels
In December, we introduced a new approach: targeted recruitment campaigns on Facebook and WhatsApp. We launched ads describing our exact requirements, and directed interested applicants to a Google questionnaire for pre-qualification. Only those who met our criteria were automatically contacted on WhatsApp and added to a structured hiring funnel.
This process turned out to be a game-changer:
- More qualified candidates: We now receive dozens of applications that truly match our needs.
- Less manual work: Thanks to automation via the questionnaire and WhatsApp flows, our team spends less time on recruitment.
- Faster onboarding: We can now hire and onboard new booking managers in just a few hours.
Meet Our New Team Members
Our new system recently helped us welcome two fantastic new booking managers: Salomé and Ursulla. They join Ornella and Santina, who have been with us since the beginning. This marks a new era of stability and professionalism in our team, after a phase with lots of fluctuation.
Prepared for Growth and Change
Our organization is incredibly lean — booking managers form the backbone of our operations. As the founder, I’m the only person outside this team handling other tasks, and I do this project part-time as a non-profit initiative to support sustainable tourism in Madagascar.
That’s why our recruiting and operational systems must be scalable, simple, and efficient. With our new recruitment setup, we can handle team changes with minimal effort and stay fully focused on what really matters: delivering outstanding service to our clients and creating job opportunities across Madagascar.
What’s Next?
As our project continues to grow, we’re excited to refine our systems even further. December taught us that the right people, processes, and tools can truly transform the way we work. We’re now better equipped than ever to face the challenges ahead — and we can’t wait to welcome more passionate team members to our mission.
