Six Senses aims to recruit 85% Omanis at Zighy Bay

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay has revealed a long-term plan to recruit a team of 85% Omani Nationals within the next two and a half years.

According to Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay general manager Rochelle Kilgariff, currently a third of the team (67 hosts) is Omani.

Kilgariff said: “The plan is to get to 50% Omani represenatation on the team before the end of the second financial year, which for us is the end of June 2010”.

The ultimate aim is to have 85% of the staff Omani, in line with the current country law.

“We obviously would dream of getting to that level and eventually we will, but you have to take it in stages of course. We’ve presented to the labour minister our plan to get 85% but it’s obviously over a longer term — I think we’ve given a projected two and a half years,” said Kilgariff.

“They are now talking abut adding another airport to this region, that will bring an enormous amount of infrastructure to the Musandam area and a larger population, so if that airport goes ahead in the immediate future I think we could look at having that timeframe reduced,” she added.

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay works closely with the National Hospitality Institute (NHI) in Oman to recruit local staff in addition to providing a opportunities to local villagers at Zighy Bay and Omanis living in Dibba.

“I would say 80% of the team that have been brought on board have come through NHI,” said Kilgariff.

The resort interviews Omani Nationals and selects successful candidates to attend NHI at government expense for a six-month training programme on hotel operations.

“After they’ve graduated, our commitment is that we’ve confirmed them a job and they’re commitment is to stay with us for a year minimum,” said Kilgariff.