To job seekers, an attraction of the hotel industry is the chance to gain international exposure and experience career developments in broader perspectives.

More Hotels to Come
Diana Chik, Director of Human Resources, Langham Hotels International, points out that future developments of hotel industry are expected to be promising not only in Hong Kong but also globally. “Within this year, 21 new hotels will be built in Hong Kong, providing some 5,000 rooms more. In China and Macau, more hotels will also be built in the near future.”

Hence, the demand for hoteliers is high in the career market. “All levels of staff are required. Hotels in China and Macau need experienced staff to help with pre-opening, and some middle and senior management staff in Hong Kong are therefore attracted to work there,” says Ms Chik.

Passion is the Key
There used to be a general belief that hoteliers have to be good-looking. Ms Chik says, “Being pretty or handsome is not the key, but instead, a neat appearance and always wearing a smile are essential.” She advises job seekers to be polite and show a positive attitude. “Attitude is the most important. Those who want to join the industry should be passionate about their career, and a willingness to serve others is an essential requirement. If one does not enjoy serving customers, it is hard to work in this industry since working hours are long.”

As for academic qualifications, different positions have different requirements. “It is not a must for job seekers to possess a degree. But a degree would definitely be an advantage in future development,” Ms Chik says.

Climb the Career Ladder
For advancement in the industry, Ms Chik says that it depends on performance and opportunities available. “There are lots of opportunities for advancement nowadays especially in fast-growing companies like Langham. In Langham, it may only take around 2 to 3 years for a staff to advance from a junior position to middle management. Apart from internal promotion chances, staff can be promoted and / or transferred to other hotels within the group.”

Langham is expected to develop more hotels especially in China, in line with the huge demand as a result of the Olympic Games. This year, Langham Place, Beijing and Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport will be established. In 2009, the Langham Yangtze Boutique Shanghai and Langham Place, Changchun will be ready to operate. In Langham’s hotels in China, both local Chinese people as well as foreigners will be hired. “Staff in Hong Kong or other regional hotels have a chance to be promoted to manage our hotels in China,” Ms Chik comments, adding that they always encourage and motivate staff to equip themselves to prepare for opportunities that may come up anytime.

Prepare to Explore
In view of the rosy developments in the hotel industry, job seekers are advised to have good preparation for interviews. “We look for candidates with good communication skills. Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city and English is a basic skill required in front-line positions,” Ms Chik says. She advises fresh graduates to find out the department in a hotel in which they are interested to work. “If they have no idea, they should get internship opportunities to explore for possible future developments.”