Hotel industry

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, 53 new hotels, consisting of some 9,700 rooms, will open between 2011 and 2015. Based on an employee-to-room ratio of 0.6:1, approximately 5,800 hotel jobs will be created over this four-year period to cater for the city's continuing demand for high-quality lodgings. Hiring trends therefore remain remarkably positive, with a good variety of jobs on offer for those with the appropriate skills.

Part of this demand comes from the city actively strengthening its position as the premier meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) destination in Asia-Pacific. This is sure to provide a strong lure for businesses looking to host events in the region and increase the number of business travellers heading to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is, however, facing stiff competition from neighbouring cities such as Macau and those in the Pearl River Delta which are also actively developing their tourism industries. Attractive packages may tempt Hong Kong talent to work in these areas, which is likely to make the local manpower shortages all the more severe.

Spokesperson, Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre, Vocational Training Council
As told to Chiu Po-sze