Dubai's Dusit gains region's only IIP Silver Award

Dusit Thani Dubai has become the only organisation in the Middle East and the only hotel in the Middle East and Asia to receive Silver Accreditation from Investors in People (IIP).

The hotel first gained the Standard IIP certification in 2011 having used its global framework for improving business productivity, performance and competitiveness by implementing best practice in people management.

As the hotel had progressed so successfully in the IIP framework, the property elected to overtake the Bronze standard, instead setting its sights on achieving the Silver award, which involves meeting 76 additional standards on top of the 36 required to attain Standard IIP accreditation.

Director of human resources, Mike Audrain confirmed that meeting the Silver standard had allowed the hotel to achieve staff retention rates of 10-12%, which he says is one of the lowest turnover rates in the hospitality sector, resulting in cost savings, “that run into the hundreds of thousands”.

The implementation of the framework has also delivered a rise in employee satisfaction and helped the property meet all its financial and hotel KPIs for 2012, according to Audrain.

Speaking to Hotelier following the announcement of its IIP Silver Accreditation, Audrain said: “I have been in the hospitality for over 30 years and must admit that this is the most rewarding achievement I have experience in that time. The best element though is that this is down to total team work from GM to colleague level and back up again.”

The hotel is now working towards achieving IIP Gold accreditation which Audrain confirms is the target in the forthcoming year.