Talent crunch hurts hotel growth in Southeast Asia
Skift Take
Many skilled management employees flee Asian countries to find work, which leaves global hotel chains with few local hiring options and hefty costs to import overseas employees.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Patrick Imbardelli said retaining employees in markets including Bali, Myanmar and Manila is the Asian hospitality industry’s greatest challenge.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="350"] The W Hotel in Bali is one Starwood's numerous properties in Asia. Photo by Simon Sees.[/caption]
Competition among hotel operators, workers choosing to seek jobs overseas and a lack of suitably trained employees have contributed to the shortage, Imbardelli said. The industry also loses workers to banks, insurance companies and airlines, which are focusing more on service and presentation, he said.
“The single biggest challenge we have is the talent crunch,” Imbardelli said in an interview in Singapore on Oct. 19. The shortage is across the board, from front-office managers to top management, he said.
Pan Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Marriott International Inc. are among chains building more hotels in Asia as travel to the region increases. More hotels and a lack of ex
