Web portal to identify and target recruits outside of the hospitality industry
Hotel to create new roles that have not been seen in the industry before
Dubai, UAE: The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, a stunning addition to Marriott International's JW Marriott world-class luxury hotel brand due to open later this year, has announced plans to launch an innovative new web portal that will host unique and interactive content whilst seeking to attract unique talent in the global marketplace.
A flagship luxury property in Dubai that aims to establish itself as the 'home of business' in the MENA region, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is looking to recruit for the property's launch in Q4 of this year and is integrating digital fully into the process, embracing the innovation that the medium offers.
Supported by existing social media channels belonging to its parent company Marriott International, as well as the applicants themselves, the new portal will seek to identify and target potential recruits from outside the hospitality sector.
Speaking at the 2012 Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai's General Manager Rupprecht Queitsch said, "We want to capitalize on the current forces at work. We are operating in an environment where 'outside-the-box' thinking is more important than ever, and where many talented individuals are actively looking to transition career. This provides a game-changing opportunity for us. Who, for example, would be best-placed to develop a visionary restaurant? An F&B manager who has 10 years of experience in hospitality but only knows how to execute the same old hotel offering, or a businessman who is a passionate foodie and desperate to make his passion his livelihood? One brings tired, repetitive ideas to the table, while the other brings fresh thinking, insight and perspective based on their time as an avid consumer."
Entitled 'Transformation', the initiative reflects the fact the property itself is transforming the business hotel proposition and, on a more micro level, is offering individuals the opportunity to 'transform' their lives by offering them a unique window to join the hospitality industry.
In a further step to ensure the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is genuinely 'ground-breaking', the hotel will create a series of new roles that have not been seen before in the industry. For example, an editor working in the declining newspaper industry may find salvation in the form of becoming the property's 'storyteller-in-residence', communicating with guests through a variety of on- and off-line channels. The web portal will focus on four 'star roles' which will specifically be aimed at those with non-hospitality experience and which won't resemble 'traditional' hospitality jobs - a radically different approach compared to the hotel's competitive set.
From here, the application process again both deviates from the norm and leverages the power of digital engagement, with an interactive tool including animated questionnaires and tasks aimed at allowing the individual to showcase their full personality. For example, one question might be a gallery of 'celebrities' from the worlds of business, sport and entertainment, and the applicant will be asked 'what inspires you?' and will have to provide a rationale to accompany their selection. The applicant is also given the opportunity to share their experience with their facebook 'friends', thus exposing the recruitment drive to a wider audience and encouraging further applications at zero cost.
"It is this radical thinking that underpins our approach to digital recruitment," added Queitsch. "We are leveraging platforms that can give us unprecedented global reach, rather than being restricted to the circulation of the publication we are advertising in. We are connecting with individuals who can bring unique and radical thinking to our hotel and give us a competitive edge over the rest of the sector. Anyone who is interested in joining our team should go to Marriott.com/careers."
Opening its doors to guests in Q4 of this year, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will open in two phases, with the first section featuring 804 rooms and numerous restaurants and lounges. The Marquis endorsement is reserved for iconic properties in the Marriott International portfolio, defined by their scale, grandeur and location. The new JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai will be the first JW Marriott Marquis branded property outside of North America (after the JW Marriott Marquis Miami) and sends a strong signal about how Marriott International views Dubai's growing importance and global influence.
For more information, please go to www.jwmarriottmarquisdubai.com or www.Marriott.com/careers
About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 53 JW Marriott hotels in 22 countries; by 2015 the portfolio will encompass 80 properties in 29 countries. www.marriott.com/jw-marriott/travel.mi.
The "Marquis" designation is reserved for select downtown properties that offer the highest level of comfort, technology, personal service, meeting facilities, privacy and world-class amenities.
Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
© Press Release 2012
