Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) has launched a new initiative aimed at attracting more Australians into long-term careers in the hotel and hospitality sectors.
The Hotel Career Expo puts the spotlight on the travel opportunities, world-class training, and diverse career pathways that are available through a career in the hotel industry.
The new, industry-led initiative was launched on October 27 by the NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres alongside representatives from NSW’s leading hotels and major sponsor, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) NSW.
The announcement of the Hotel Career Expo comes at a time of NSW’s largest hotel expansion since the 1980s, with over 30 hotel projects under development or in advanced stages of planning.
TAA recently undertook a Labour Trends in Accommodation Survey amongst NSW members and found that there were already significant skill shortages in a range of managerial and supervisory positions, which needed urgent addressing to attract enough skilled staff to fuel the expansion of the industry over the next five years.
NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said that it was essential to have the right people, with the right skills, in the industry to ensure delivery of a world-class visitor experience and maintain NSW’s competitiveness as a destination.
“This is why the NSW Government is committed to encouraging career choices in tourism and hospitality. The Hotel Career Expo will play an important role in attracting the next generation of skilled and ambitious tourism and hospitality professionals,” he said.
“With the support of industry, we want to see the growth of tourism and hospitality careers, as the industry really does offer a great world of opportunities for young people.”
Megan Knoetze, Area Director of Human Capital and Development – Oceania at Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said that the general public weren’t always aware of the career opportunities available in the hotel industry and the Hotel Career Expo would be an important step in educating people about what is available.
“The diverse range of roles, across various disciplines, are all under one roof – not only that, these careers are also supported by numerous benefits such as travel and professional development opportunities to social activities and getting your laundry done for free!” she said.
Daniel Gerritse, Associate Director of Sales, has already enjoyed a successful career in sales and business development at the Park Hyatt Sydney. At only 25 years old he has completed world-renowned training thanks to his employer, has travelled and stayed in some of the most beautiful establishments across the globe and met some intriguing people; the kind of people you see plastered across tabloids all around the world.
“I’d encourage anyone contemplating a career change, graduating from university or leaving school to certainly consider a career in hotels. The money-can’t-buy moments I have experienced to date, not to mention the amazing people I have met, are incredible. In addition, I feel that in the hotel industry, I can really make my mark and have a different day – everyday,” Gerritse said.
The Hotel Career Expo is an industry initiative that has seen hotel representatives from some of NSW’s leading establishments come together to lift the profile of the industry as a whole, and address the workforce issues facing the sector.
The Hotel Career Expo will culminate with a major careers event on 16 May 2016 at the InterContinental Sydney.
Pictured above: Michelle Paul (Atura Hotel, AHL), Daniel Gerritse (Park Hyatt Sydney), Carol Giuseppi (CEO TAA), Peter Tudehope (Chair TAA NSW & GM Radisson Blu Sydney), Michelle Allen (Swissotel Sydney) and Jonathan Wilson (Shangri-La Hotel Sydney).