IHG Hotels & Resorts has introduced a suite of new benefits including flexible work arrangements to its employees in Australia, as it looks to attract and retain skilled workers amid the talent shortage impacting the hospitality industry due to Covid-19.
Branded as IHG myBenefits, the platform includes hallmarks such as flexible work arrangements, as well as paid parental and partner leave, birthday leave, and the ability to use personal leave for proactive wellness. IHG is also moving domestic violence leave entitlements from an unpaid to paid leave arrangement, and making available sabbatical leave for its employees to pursue personal or passion projects.
Additionally, IHG employees will have access to the IHG myPerks platform which carries discounts and cashbacks at more than 400 retailers and service providers. The online platform also contains a Wellbeing Hub, which is designed to support staff physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Leanne Harwood, IHG’s managing director Japan, Australasia and Pacific, said: “People who work in hospitality know that it’s a fantastic place to grow a rewarding career, but we recognise that, now more than ever, we have to do everything we can to make the most compelling proposition for people to join or stay in our industry.
“Part of that is making sure we are offering our employees the most attractive benefits and working conditions. Offering our colleagues flexible working agreements is something we are truly passionate about and it’s a policy that we are proud to be rolling out. Each colleague’s situation will be different, based on their role and personal circumstances, so we’re committed to working with them to find the best way to bring some more flexibility into their lives.“
Harwood added that as IHG gears up for another record year of hotel openings in the region, “we need to get people back to being excited about working in hospitality and we need to do more to attract people to a career in the accommodation sector“.
“By providing a compelling suite of benefits, perks and flexible working arrangements, we hope it will attract jobseekers to our industries and most importantly, retain the wonderful talent we already have in our business.”
With international travel largely on hold, staycation demand in Singapore remains unwavering, with 86 per cent of Singaporeans planning to book at least one local trip in the next two months, found a new Tripadvisor study.
According to Tripadvisor’s Seasonal Travel Index for Fall, the vast majority (87 per cent) of travel intent in the Asia-Pacific region remains domestic.
A third of Singaporeans (33 per cent) are planning at least two domestic trips this fall and more than one in ten (12 per cent) are planning on taking three or more domestic trips.
This revenge travel mindset is also evident in the spending habits of Singaporeans this fall as around one in three (35 per cent) plan to spend more on their biggest trip than they did on their biggest trip during the same period pre-pandemic in 2019. Gen Z Singaporeans are most likely to spend more, with nearly half (46 per cent) saying that they will do so.
The study also found that while single-night staycations were all the rage at the start of the pandemic, with prolonged lockdowns and work-from-home, a growing number of Singaporeans are seeking longer getaways.
Around one in seven (13 per cent) of Singaporean travellers indicated their plans for a one-night stay, compared with the 59 per cent that are looking for a longer two- to five-day stay.
In the age of Covid-19, cleanliness remains a top priority for travellers. When it comes to hotels, Singaporean travellers are searching most for clean and modern hotels, with family and mid-range hotels proving the most popular hotel types in Singapore.
The study also revealed that Singaporeans are spending S$487 (US$360) on average on their fall trip. When it comes to planning international travel, city trips are top of the list for Singaporeans, with the most popular destinations being New York City, London, Hong Kong and Dubai.