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While cautiously welcoming what many are now saying will be a year of recovery for the region’s hospitality and tourism sector, TMS Asia-Pacific CEO Andrew Chan has cautioned employers they need to stay on their toes if they are to retain head count in 2010.
Speaking from the executive recruitment specialist’s regional head office in Singapore Mr. Chan said that all the signs were pointing to a much more positive 2010 and one which will be buoyed by some of the biggest events on the international calendar taking place in Asia. These, he said, include the Shanghai World EXPO in 2010 which runs from 01 May until 31 October as well as the Commonwealth Games which will be staged in New Delhi next October.
“It should be remembered the huge demands the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the developments on Macau’s casino scene placed on regional staffing resources less than two years ago,” he said. “Add to the 2010 fixtures the developments taking place in Singapore – not only will the staging of this year’s Grand Prix mean an extra strain on local employment resources, the two-soon-to-be opened integrated resorts at Marina Bay and on Sentosa are by far the biggest thing to happen in the history of Singapore’s hospitality and tourism.
“I really don’t think a lot of people still fully understand how this will change the employment landscape of Singapore forever.
“We’re talking about adding 20,000 new jobs in the Singapore market and that is going to cause some serious ripples on the regional scene.
“If employers don’t prepare themselves they’ll really struggle to retain and attract staff and we’ll once again find ourselves in the same situation we experienced before the GFR began to bite – a return to the ‘war for talent’ where an over abundance of available jobs far outstrips the supply of appropriate candidates.”
Mr Chan said the time had once again come for Singapore’s employers to address the challenges, the cornerstone of its approach to be based on a series of progressive HR strategies designed not only to retain employees, but also attract candidates from both traditional and non-traditional sources.
“Well thought out staff strategies will be key to attracting and retaining talent in the region’s ever intensifying and highly competitive market if organisations truly want to succeed in 2010.
“There an be no doubt whatsoever that 2009 was the most challenging year we as an organisation have faced in our 15 year history but all signs are pointing to a much more positive 2010 and TMS like everyone else needs to be prepared for the upturn.”
Tatiana is the news co-ordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. She holds a Bachelor degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
