Keeping it clean

Also, meeting the budget of our outside laundry outlets, especially when the city has a high number of laundry shops serving guests with minimal prices [is a challenge].

 

Kapoor: To generate more revenue by maintaining standards and controlling the cost. At the same time creating an atmosphere in which the operation runs smoothly and associates have a smile on their face all the time.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

Mohammed: The most enjoyable aspect of being a laundry manager is providing high quality in everything that we do. It is also very interesting to be a part of a company that is growing so ambitiously both in the region and internationally - this expansion is very motivating and exciting.

Jumeirah currently employs 10,300 colleagues from 102 different nationalities and this is another interesting and pleasant aspect of my job, to work with this diversity of people.

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Gnanaprajasam: Variety makes my job interesting. I am not only involved in the laundry department but I am also part of the housekeeping department - which means I am able to gain extra knowledge and experience on different aspects of housekeeping and not limit myself to laundry.

Barretto: We often receive compliments from our guests for the high quality service they have received from my team. It really makes me feel proud that our hard efforts are recognized, which I really enjoy.

Bakhsh: The most enjoyable aspect in my job is doing training for our associates and giving guidance and education for what they are doing in their day-to-day work. Some of the staff that I trained have left the hotel and they are now working with other hotels in better positions, which makes me feel proud. I always want to see people coming up with their potential and ability.

How many staff are in your team?

Mohammed: Currently we are 22 colleagues from seven different nationalities working for the laundry department at Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Gnanaprajasam: I have a team of 16.

Dizon: So far I have 14. Two more will be hired in the near future.

Bakhsh: We have a team of 23 staff including myself and a supervisor.

Kapoor: We have eight associates in our small team, including myself.

What is your recruiting strategy for the laundry department?

Mohammed: We have a diverse nationality mix today, and look to recruit people from all over the world. We have an extensive in-house recruitment centre within Jumeirah Group and this team is assisted by a network of agencies in our key source markets worldwide.

The team travels the world to look for talent. In addition we recruit locally, and we post all our positions on our website as well as the intranet pages, as we do recruit internally too.

Gnanaprajasam: Basically, I recruit through the hotel's human resources department who will source talents from recruiting trips and recruitment companies.

Barretto: It's a joint process carried out by the executive housekeeper and human resources manager. They use various recruitment sites, including The Rezidor Hotel Groups website, to source experienced candidates.

Whilst possessing the right attitude is one of the most important general selection criteria for vacancies, for laundry positions it's important that candidates have sound technical knowledge and experience of machinery, chemicals and fabrics.

Dizon: Our housekeeping manager is in charge of interviewing new staff. I do the evaluation during the six-month probation period. I observe how they accomplish their tasks and work as a team.

Bakhsh: Well, first, we look for experienced candidates for the position, but if we don't get such candidates then we have to go with talented candidates with less experience or no experience.

Once we recruit the candidates, we give them training with the help of our training manager that we have in the hotel. We also send them for cross training to various departments and sometimes we even send them to our sister hotels in the region until they are confident enough to take up the position that they are hired for.

As far as hiring process is concerned, sometimes we go for direct recruitment based on qualification and experience, and sometimes we assign agencies to do the job.

Is it a challenge retaining staff?

Kapoor: Yes, of course, with growing industries and so many properties are coming up with modern equipped technology. You have to guide associates and explain to them the values and standards that Marriott maintains, and future career growth - they can excel with Marriott by using their skills and talent.

Mohammed: Bearing in mind the growth within the hospitality industry taking place in Dubai at the moment, the competition for talent is definitely heating up.

We believe that our most pressing challenge in the next couple of years will be attracting and retaining top talent. People are the foundation of our success and growth; the strong culture within Jumeirah, our operating philosophy, and our value proposition is built on our people.

Gnanaprajasam: As Dubai's hotel industry continues to boom, staff retention becomes an increasing challenge to the industry as a whole.

Barretto: It can be difficult as the laundry department is a very demanding area.