Hospitality HR experts have said one of the ways in which to attract UAE nationals to the industry is to be more flexible with job titles and roles.
During a discussion about sustainability in hospitality human resources, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel director of human resources Mona Al Hebsi said: "The hotel structure is quite rigid. There needs to be a little more flexibility when it comes to certain titles or creating certain positions.
"Let’s say if I am an Emirati and I really don’t like the idea of working as a receptionist, maybe we can agree to have a title with certain positions such as 'cultural ambassador', which will be to culturally engage with the guests. It’s also about the hotel being flexible in creating such roles."
The rest of the panellists agreed, and Think On director and co-founder Alan Simpson added; "Hospitality is seen as food and rooms – and it’s much more than that. UAE nationals who work for hospitality here are an ambassador for the country."
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Copthorne Hotel Dubai HR & training manager Hertz Martin noted: "The HR team is now a business partner, which is quite a shift from when I started HR. We all come from different backgrounds, experiences and countries, and we all come with mixed adaptations of whatever we require. Flexibility is something that is required if we want Emiratis in the business."
HRM Solutions partner and owner Sameer Miglani added that it's important to welcome Emiratis to the team, and from a guest point of view, it would be "extremely intriguing" to have a UAE national greet them at the lobby and engage with them.
From both an F&B and spa perspective, SCAFA academic director & chef instructor Francisco Araya and Esadore International director of operations Michael Monsod agreed that it would be fantastic to have an Emirati executive chef at restaurants and members of a spa team who are UAE nationals.
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