Starwood to hire 10,000 new staff for Middle East

Hospitality major Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide is planning to employ 10,000 workers to staff 25 new Starwood properties due to come online between now and 2016.

The US hotel giant, which announced its aggressive expansion plans back in January, will be looking for wait staff, kitchen porters, chefs, admin workers, drivers, managers, cleaners, butlers and security staff among many others.

The company said it will be advertising job vacancies on its website.

"The 25 new hotels coming to the region will create approximately 10,000 new jobs,” said Guido de Wilde, senior vice president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East. "These jobs are across all functions in the hotel from line staff to management.”

He added that the Middle East was a key growth market for the firm, and only the second region after North America due to operate all nine of Starwood’s world-class brands.

The UAE particularly, will play a key role in the company’s growth, with 10 new hotels already planned across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman in the coming few years.

“Starwood also sees great potential for development in Ras Al Khaimah,” said de Wilde, adding that the firm would continue to seek opportunities for development in all of the Emirates.

Starwood currently operates 50 hotels in the Middle East and 20 properties in the UAE.

Its nine brands include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, the Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft and Element.

(By Elizabeth Broomhall)