Cebu-based hotel operators confirmed that the rise of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events and holiday travel bookings, however, they face difficulties in hiring more people coming from lean manpower operations due to the pandemic.
During an interview with Mia Singson-Leon, the Executive Vice President of the Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), it was highlighted that hoteliers are currently confronted with a significant challenge concerning the availability of manpower resources.
She noted that those hotel personnel who temporarily lost their jobs during the COVID-19 lockdown are now getting good employment abroad, mostly in high-paying luxury cruise liners, or resorts and hotels abroad.
Other hotel personnel are now employed in the outsourcing sector, and other industries.
In order to cope with the lack of manpower, some hotels, like Quest Hotel & Conference Center, are implementing continuous training programs for new hires, especially if applicants do not meet the standards of the company.
However, training for new hires usually would take three months, “we just have to keep on hiring and training people,” she quipped.
