'Fairmont passport mix-up ruined my career'

Posted by: Shahzad
23 Feb 2012
I am working with a leading chain of 5 stars hotel and convinced that passport should be with the employee and not the company. However, it is not only happening with Fairmont rather with many other firms and naming a reputed firm in media in such a manner is not ethical. However Ayub should have been compensated for his loss and unrest that it has caused. Fairmont and other such chains do care of their employees perhaps in best manners as many others in this region. I am sure if someone looks around can find disaster concerning HR management in many companies. For Fairmont, certainly it is not expected to happen & now to repeat in future.

Posted by: EH
23 Feb 2012
The person who didn't check his passport contributed to this scenario as well.If human resources error are published as headlines the news papers & magazines would loose their weight and impact Fairmont is a great company and that is a human error in this case and it is irrelavant to make so much of a drama out of it. Major errors do happen all over the world and none is published. EH MBA Student

Posted by: Belle
23 Feb 2012
He should probably sue them, really !

Posted by: Just a question
25 Feb 2012
I wonder if Fairmont paid back the money they took from him when he decided to resign. I wonder who got the promotion as the order taker Best of all is Fairmont statement about HR

Posted by: Sk
25 Feb 2012
It is general for Saudi employer to keep the passport for the employees which is really not ethical, In this case it is really worst i have never expected this atleast from fairmont never. Unexpected poor guy Here i must say "His moment was converted into Memories"

Posted by: hanaa
25 Feb 2012
8 wonder of the world(Never heard): He travelled without passport, How come the officail at jeddah airport cleared without proper scanning of passport but i belive it is saudi arabia everything is posssible here, fairmont should compensate for his loss for giving him hard time for 6 month due to which he lost his job and valuable time Or he should sue them.

Posted by: Maurissio
25 Feb 2012
I was working in this Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower and I can confirm to you that it's not really part from Fairmont chain like you imagine. The standarts of Fairmont are not applicated there such us training opportunities, promotions,etc..Most of the staff hired them because they are family members to some managers or connexions and the leader positions tooked by one or two nationalities only that mean there no chance for others to be promoted..Some positions are kept only for Saudian people forbidden to apply for foreigners...My education, diploma and experience was as Front Office supervisor when they made the interview with me they told me that we don't have offers for Front Office now you can come us F&B team and later after 6 monthes we will moove you easly...But later nothing was happened by the way I have more than 5 years Hotel Industry experience and I speak Arabic...English..French..Italian..And spanish

Posted by: A Fairmont Makkah Employee
25 Feb 2012
Nothing new for Fairmont Makkah, the worst Management I have ever seen.....They treat employes as slaves. Specially for people from certain continents. 1)There was an issue where an Asian guy was beaten black and blue by Accommodation Doctor. 2)Till date no proper food is given to Asian employees. 3)Being in HARAM we don't get to go for Namaz. 4) Asian were forced to resign from the hotel or there salary was reduced to 30% they had no other option. 5) During the Pre-Opening days when the Ministers were visiting the Hotel, Asian were asked to NOT TO BE present at Front Office and were told be seated behind in back office. Why were Asian hired if the management was so ashamed of them. 6) No proper service charge was given. (Now its totally gone, as we don't get it at all) 7) Regarding Ayub I would like to inform my friend EH MBA Student for the comment posted above. I wish if you would have been in the same scenario as what happened to him at India Airport, you wouldn't have made such a comment. As I had spoken to Ayub he has just received an apology email from Fairmont Corporate Team. THANK YOU FAIRMONT MAKKAH for ruining all our careers. I am just waiting to finish my contract with you and will surely make a Headline again at hoteliermiddleeast.com Would like to Thank Hotelier Middle East from the bottom of my heart for bringing up this. Atleast it will help us who are still working here as slaves.

Posted by: Joel
26 Feb 2012
Sorry to hear about this Ayub, but honestly I'm not surprised to come across such incident. Probably the HR personnal were busy enough to play with their mobile ( FB and Twitter ) to give enough attention to these details. and regarding the promotion, I believe you need to be an Egyptian to claim your right to be promoted. As an Indian / Asian u never stood a chance. I have read the guest feedback for this hotel on Trip Advisor, and trust me, you should consider yourself luck to be out of their team. Its just a small price u paid for a better future. n never to forget.... Immigration people at Jeddah Airport.. BINGO to them.

Posted by: User of hoteliermiddleeast.com
26 Feb 2012
It is a really very heart touching story, and I can't believe such a big hotels are treating this type to our employee. I can only suggest to all Hotel Management Student Pls check this site to get proper information or feedback of hotels before you join and avoid such a indecent. I think Bangladesh Railway is better then Saudi Airport. Last and Most imported Point please don't trust to any Saudi Person,Company and Airport employee.It is Big Shame Shame Shame on Saudi, Saudi Airport and Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower.