MUSCAT -- InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world's largest Hotel Company, is set to employ around 300 youths this year, said Antonio Zamora, Director of Operations, IHG Oman and General Manager of Al Bustan Palace Hotel, while announcing at InterContinental Hotel yesterday the launch of the biggest ever recruitment road show in the Sultanate due to take place from May 26 to 30.
Following the outstanding success of previous year's Recruitment Days, this year's recruitment drive will be held under the theme 'Room to Grow', at various venues across the capital and Al Batinah regions. As the Sultanate's tourism sector booms, Zamora said delivering world class service requires world class employees. "At IHG we are 100 per cent committed to both our customers and employees and this year's recruitment road show will enable us to provide unique training and employment opportunities to dynamic, motivated and ambitious candidates," he said.
"Riding on last year's success which saw the employment of 10 per cent of all those who participated, this year we hope to recruit around 300 young men and women, of whom 200 will be accommodated in our new Crowne Plaza Hotel in Sohar and the rest in other branches," he added. Speaking about Omanisation, Zamora said: "This initiative was designed to assist the company in preparation for the upcoming phase of Omanisation, a challenging path to ensuring a future brimming with positive, influential and talented Omani professionals. The immediate gain from this directive is an abundance of employment opportunities for the young and talented youth of Oman."
"The IHG's employment presence in Oman boasts an Omanisation status of 62 per cent. This covers all six of its hotels in the Sultanate, including both Muscat and Salalah and the recently announced Crowne Plaza Sohar. The Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat boasts the highest Omanisation rate at an impressive 64 per cent," Zamora said.
The opening recruitment day will take place at the InterCon Muscat Hotel on May 26 from 6 pm to 9 pm. Subsequent venues will include the National Hospitality Institute (NHI) on May 27, Sohar University on May 28, the Caledonian College on May 29 and concluding at the Oman Tourism College (OTC) on May 30. The opening hours from May 27 to 30 will be from 9 am to 1 pm.
The road show promises to provide many exciting employment opportunities and a full insight into the hotel industry in Oman. Candidates interested in working for IHG overseas and expatriates are also welcome. The IHG bases its recruitment and employee selection on qualifying standards such as customer focus, linguistics, friendliness, and of course smiling faces with the belief that such facets of an employee can influence a memorable experience on the hotel's guests.
In order to apply, candidates should be over 18 years old. Positions include front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, recreation (beach and health clubs), accounts and engineering. Relevant qualifications and experience will depend on the specific job position applied for. Mohammed Hamoud al Asmi, Director of Human Resources, Al Bustan Palace Hotel, told the Observer IHG enjoys good co-operation with the Ministries of Manpower and Tourism.
"Through seminars, we get employment guidance as well as financial support from the Manpower Ministry as it helps in funding those students in hospitality institutes," he said. "Young Omanis are now-a-days eager to join the tourism industry which has not been a career of choice in the last few years. Targeting 80 per cent Omanisation by 2010, we will be looking forward to recruit more Omanis than expatriates," he added. With over 3,500 hotels worldwide, the IHG in Oman comprises a family of unique and world class hotels and includes the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat, Crowne Plaza Muscat, Crowne Plaza Sohar, Crowne Plaza Salalah, Holiday Inn Madina, and the InterContinental Muscat.
By Shaddad al Musalmy
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
