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UAE hospitality industry to create 120,000 jobs

DUBAI—With 244 hotels, containing 55,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline, the UAE will create 120,000 new jobs by 2011, providing hotel management and recruitment specialists with a challenge, but more significantly generating genuine career opportunities for UAE nationals and expatriates alike.

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“The industry average for employees required to run a hotel vary greatly from less than one to more than three staff per hotel room, therefore with 244 hotels due to come online, 120,000 is perhaps a conservative estimate” said Frederique Maurell, Director of The Hotel Show.

To recognise these issues The Hotel show 2011, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 17-19 May, has created a ‘careers afternoon’ in collaboration with the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM) to provide advice to aspiring hoteliers either embarking on a career in hospitality or those looking for career direction and vocational training.

“The EAHM will be exhibiting throughout the show, showcasing their range of hospitality management courses to human resource directors, training managers and other industry professionals,” added Maurell

“We have organised a ‘careers afternoon’ which will take place on the last day of the show. Graduating students from EAHM have been invited to visit The Hotel Show providing them with an opportunity to meet their future suppliers and colleagues. In addition those interested in a career in hospitality and hoteliers seeking careers advice are also welcome,” she said.

The EAHM, part of the Jumeirah Group, is a institution of higher education in the Middle East that offers internationally accredited and industry recognised degree-level courses focusing on hospitality education. It also runs a number of preparatory training programmes sponsored by DTCM and TANMIA that are aimed at encouraging UAE nationals to take up a career in hospitality. As a result UAE nationals are now working across a diverse range of roles such as front office, HR, administration, security and food and beverage.

Training is an integral part of the hospitality industry. A highly trained, well motivated workforce enhances operational efficiency as well as providing staff with additional skill sets” said Shaun Harper, Director of Consulting and Training at the EAHM.

“Development provides a very tangible return on investment. Training costs should not be viewed as an expense, rather an investment with, potentially, an immediate payback. It is this common synergy that bought The Hotel Show and the EAHM together, to highlight the wealth of training, programs and educational opportunities for the benefit of all hospitality industry stakeholders,” he added.

“Many industry- focused colleges are seeing a substantial rise in local and overseas applicants, highlighting the growing interest from young people. They should try to undertake internships and placements in quality driven hotels. An excellent start in this profession tends to lead to an excellent career,” said Harper.

The Hotel Show 2011 will also bring leading industry figures together for the Seven Star Conference, as well as discussing health and beauty trends at the Middle East Spa Summit.

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