Discreet and attentive, Sribalan Thanaba perfectly embodies the spirit of bespoke service, Toulouse style.
Before becoming a private chauffeur at Chabé, Sribalan spent nearly 27 years working as a bartender in a high-end hotel.
Discover how he successfully transitioned his hospitality expertise to the world of premium mobility—while keeping the same attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
Sribalan moved to Toulouse to be closer to his family. He began his career in the restaurant industry and quickly progressed to a high-end hotel in the city, where he took on the role of bartender.
A position where service excellence was at the heart of every gesture.
“I thrived on interacting with people, on making them happy. A great cocktail isn’t just a mix—it’s about offering more than just a taste: it’s an experience.”
Over the years, he honed his listening skills, eye for detail, and relationship with hotel guests. Among them was Jean-Jacques Martin, now Director of Chabé Toulouse.
“I used to serve him coffee regularly, never imagining he’d one day offer me a new opportunity.”
When the hotel where Sribalan worked changed management, it no longer felt like the right fit. That’s when Jean-Jacques Martin reconnected with him and invited him to a job interview.
“I had an instant connection. I was discovering a new profession, a new clientele—but with the same codes I already knew. I had simply changed scenery.”
For Sribalan, being a private chauffeur in Toulouse is a lot like being behind the bar—you have to intuit the client’s needs, often without a single word being spoken.
“When a client steps into the car, a single glance is enough to know whether they want to chat or prefer silence. My role is to adapt, sometimes wordlessly.”
One of the highlights of his career was a four-day assignment between Lyon and Toulouse for an executive of a major international group and his team.
“On the third day, they told me, ‘Since we arrived, everything has been complicated… except for your support. That made all the difference.’ That kind of recognition gives true meaning to what I do.”
In Toulouse, Sribalan drives many business clients. He notably accompanied a senior executive from the aerospace sector on a journey of over four hours.
“He was focused, working on his laptop. My job was to create a bubble—so he could feel like he was in his own office, completely at ease.”
At Chabé, Sribalan continues to uphold a certain art of service—one he mastered long ago, whether with a shaker in hand… or a steering wheel.
