Skilled HR to be required in country's luxury hotels
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
FE Report
At least 5,000 skilled workforce will be required in the country's luxury hotels that are coming up in Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar over the next five years, industry experts said.
"At least three hotels are expected to be built in Dhaka. Of them Best Westin at Uttara with 400 rooms will be ready next year requiring 900 employees," Atique Rahman, general manager (GM) of Westin Dhaka told the FE during an exclusive conversation.
"Another Westin hotel with 250 rooms will be commissioned next year and by 2013 two more hotels of the chain will join the industry in Dhaka, which will absorb another 1200 employees," the Westin GM said.
Mr Atique said Westin Chittagong will be opened in 2014 employing a further 500 people.
Besides, another hotel named Ocean Paradise coming up in Cox's Bazar will require 500 employees.
Besides this local demand, there is immense opportunity to export skilled hospitality industry workers to other countries, especially in the Middle East.
Bangladesh can also tap the fast growing hospitality industry in the Middle East and earn remittance by exporting skilled manpower for this sector, which requires at least 20,000 workers immediately.
"To my knowledge, only the United Arab Emirates needs 20,000 skilled labourers for their fast growing hospitality industry," Mr Atique said.
He said the Bangladesh government is also aware of the situation and it should take immediate steps to train up people and negotiate with the authorities of other countries.
According to the GM, the present growth in Bangladeshi hospitality sector in terms of revenue is 25 to 35 per cent.
Mr Atique, however, expressed his concern over meeting this huge immediate demand for skilled workers in the local hospitality industry as there is not much human resources development in this sector in Bangladesh.
He thinks both the government and the top executives of the luxury hotels should take initiatives to develop the human resources for the hospitality industry at home and abroad.
"The government can form a body to regulate the existing training institutes and universities having courses on hospitality industry. It should examine their curriculum, standard of education and certification system," said Atique.
There are about 11 hospitality training institutes and five universities having hospitality management department. in the country, including that of Bangladesh Parjatan Corpotaion (BPC).
Owned by Unique Group Westin Dhaka is managed by Starwood, the parent company of renowned global brands like Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien. It earned a revenue worth Tk 1.08 billion in 2009.
The GM of Westin Dhaka expects the annual turnover of about Tk 1.56 billion in calendar 2010. The revenue was recorded at Tk 1.3 billion until October.
A luxury hotel with 235 rooms the Westin Dhaka has an occupancy rate of 80 per cent.
At least 5,000 skilled workforce will be required in the country's luxury hotels that are coming up in Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar over the next five years, industry experts said.
"At least three hotels are expected to be built in Dhaka. Of them Best Westin at Uttara with 400 rooms will be ready next year requiring 900 employees," Atique Rahman, general manager (GM) of Westin Dhaka told the FE during an exclusive conversation.
"Another Westin hotel with 250 rooms will be commissioned next year and by 2013 two more hotels of the chain will join the industry in Dhaka, which will absorb another 1200 employees," the Westin GM said.
Mr Atique said Westin Chittagong will be opened in 2014 employing a further 500 people.
Besides, another hotel named Ocean Paradise coming up in Cox's Bazar will require 500 employees.
Besides this local demand, there is immense opportunity to export skilled hospitality industry workers to other countries, especially in the Middle East.
Bangladesh can also tap the fast growing hospitality industry in the Middle East and earn remittance by exporting skilled manpower for this sector, which requires at least 20,000 workers immediately.
"To my knowledge, only the United Arab Emirates needs 20,000 skilled labourers for their fast growing hospitality industry," Mr Atique said.
He said the Bangladesh government is also aware of the situation and it should take immediate steps to train up people and negotiate with the authorities of other countries.
According to the GM, the present growth in Bangladeshi hospitality sector in terms of revenue is 25 to 35 per cent.
Mr Atique, however, expressed his concern over meeting this huge immediate demand for skilled workers in the local hospitality industry as there is not much human resources development in this sector in Bangladesh.
He thinks both the government and the top executives of the luxury hotels should take initiatives to develop the human resources for the hospitality industry at home and abroad.
"The government can form a body to regulate the existing training institutes and universities having courses on hospitality industry. It should examine their curriculum, standard of education and certification system," said Atique.
There are about 11 hospitality training institutes and five universities having hospitality management department. in the country, including that of Bangladesh Parjatan Corpotaion (BPC).
Owned by Unique Group Westin Dhaka is managed by Starwood, the parent company of renowned global brands like Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien. It earned a revenue worth Tk 1.08 billion in 2009.
The GM of Westin Dhaka expects the annual turnover of about Tk 1.56 billion in calendar 2010. The revenue was recorded at Tk 1.3 billion until October.
A luxury hotel with 235 rooms the Westin Dhaka has an occupancy rate of 80 per cent.