Local recruitment a focus for 2016, say hoteliers

The Middle East's nationals form part of a talent pool that hoteliers are keen to focus on in 2016 and beyond.

The Rezidor Hotel Group area vice president Middle East and Turkey Mark Willis told Hotelier Middle East that recruitment will continue to be a challenge in 2016, especially with the supply growth putting a pressure on the talent pool available.

Hilton Worldwide president, Middle East & Africa Rudi Jagersbacher told Hotelier that in markets that are seeing rapid growth, such as KSA, resourcing is especially important.

Hilton’s collaboration with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage resulted in signing a MoU with His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Salman to select and recruit future graduates of a hospitality scholarship programme for employment with Hilton Worldwide upon their graduation.

“Into 2016 and beyond, we will be welcoming over 50 male and female graduates of this programme to our Saudi operations,” he revealed.

Hilton has further rolled out Mudeer Al Mustaqbal (Manager of the Future), which aims to train and develop Saudi nationals in F&B, front office and housekeeping managerial roles over a two-year period. The programme has recently admitted its first female candidate.

Millennium & Copthorne MEA chairman and founder Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi said that the firm works closely with governments entities and is dedicated to supporting nationalisation programmes, “particularly as we expand into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman”.

Alzaabi said to Hotelier: “It is vital that we demonstrate that the hospitality industry is a viable career option above other industries by investing in training and developing our talent. The perception of the hotel industry as a career is changing amongst GCC nationals as hotel groups are seeking ways to attract and retain national talent.”

Hotelier Middle East's January 2016 issue will have a full forecast of hospitality trends for the next 12 months.