By Jeff N Ross: Developing and implementing an effective hotel recruitment strategy is all very well, but how many organisations actually seriously focus upon employee retention, which is arguably the most important component of a resourcing strategy?

There are obvious benefits of managing effectively employee retention, and these are well documented academically. Reduced recruitment costs, reduced labour turnover percentages, higher workforce efficiency and competency, reduced training costs, higher customer satisfaction… all common sense really. For hospitality graduate recruitment, the issues and benefits of managing employee retention are magnified. Generally speaking, it is likely that a higher level of training and time investment have gone into both the recruitment and induction of a graduate. Perhaps more importantly though, the benefits that can be gained by retaining and developing a graduate within a business, far outweigh the argument of cost.

HVS Executive Search ranks Starwood at the top of their Hotel Industry Board list for the second year in a row. 2nd Place goes to the Walt Disney Company, followed by Highland Hospitality, DiamondRock Hospitality, Priceline.com and Maui Land.

The InterContinental Hotels (InterContinental, Crowne Plaza) in Dubai Festival City are set to open soon, and are looking to recruit qualified hotel professionals in various supervisory and managerial roles. If you know anyone who’d be interested, please feel free to pass on this information. While many more positions are still open, the main key positions include:

1) Front Office Manager - Crowne Plaza - Arabic speakers preferred, must have Crowne Plaza experience
2) Assistant Chief Engineer - InterContinental / Crowne Plaza/ICRS
3) Food & Beverage Manager InterContinental / Crowne Plaza / Arabic speakers preferred
4) Front Desk Managers - Crowne Plaza
5) Reception Supervisor - Crowne Plaza