IHG Hotels & Resorts expects to introduce 7,000 new jobs this year in over 100 of its open hotels, and 90-strong pipeline, across South-east Asia and South Korea.
IHG is committed to creating a strong and inclusive culture, as well as providing flexible working conditions, and has evolved its recruitment and retention strategy by elevating the focus on people development to attract the market’s best talent from inside and outside the industry.
Rajit Sukumaran, managing director, South East Asia and Korea, IHG, said: “We know how highly candidates value working for a company with a strong culture and values, job stability as well as a true sense of purpose – and we agree with them. That’s why we’re providing people with the chance to build a career with us while enjoying a work-life balance and increasing learning and development opportunities. It’s all part of our people-orientated strategy that’s ensuring our colleagues love being part of the IHG team.”
IHG has developed a series of programmes to support talent entering the industry including creating career pathways fort aspiring hoteliers – in-class training and access to global standards throughout its operations, along with doing purposeful work for its communities and the planet, will also be provided for all staff.
The company also recently launched IHG Skills Academy, a virtual training programme that offers free online education and courses in multiple languages for young people to become ‘employment ready’ and explore a career in hospitality. In addition, staff can benefit from IHG University that helps them find their path to building skills, knowledge and capabilities.
In addition, IHG has rolled out revolving hotel roles enabling staff to be seconded to conversions and new openings as a way to advocate a culture of mobility for staff to ensure the right talent are in the right roles.
Sukumaran added: “We are first and foremost a people business and are always on the lookout for great talent with a passion for the work that we do. This includes people from a great variety of backgrounds, and we’re very keen to attract talent from outside of the hospitality industry as well as from within it.
“There are wonderful career pathways that people can choose to embark on based on their skillsets, preferences and personality, with opportunities to work across borders and provinces, across different brands and different functions, and every single one of our colleagues get on-the-job training from day one.
Ekert joined Sabre in January 2022 as president and oversees all aspects of the company’s business and technology operations.
Titled Good Vibes Festival at Sea, this event will complement two- and three-night sailings onboard Genting Dream from March 12 to April 30, 2023.
Travellers from several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and New Zealand, will no longer need to take a PCR test prior to entry to China from today.
Eligible travellers flying directly to China will only need to take an ART 48 hours before boarding.
A positive test result would still hinder entry to China, and travellers are required to declare their negative test results on the China Customs website or through its app.
With the updated procedure, airlines will no longer check a passenger’s negative PCR or ART results.
PCR test results are still required for travellers from other countries like the US, South Korea and Japan.