Career Advice HR Focus

Five-star hotel provides stellar work environment

HR manager and 42 positions across all departments
Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel

Conveniently located on Canton Road, the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel has 43 positions open across various departments.

"Internally, we are continuously evolving and moving forward," says Michelle Yam, the hotel's director of human resources (HR).

The hotel is hiring an HR manager, a newly created position, to take even better care of staff and to balance strategic HR and operations, Yam says.

"We want to drive the HR function forward. We are still young and energetic as a company, and want to improve ourselves," she adds.

The hotel's new hires should possess a strong customer-service concept for working with internal and external clients, an open mind and a readiness to serve people from different countries.

"The service has to be genuine and sincere - committed to keeping guests happy," Yam says.

Staff should also be outgoing, proactive and ready to take the initiative to meet guests' needs with sensitivity. A positive attitude and can-do spirit coupled with humility are winning attributes.

The 42-year-old hotel group has 12 properties in Hong Kong, China, the Philippines and Thailand, and will open a number of properties on the mainland and the Philippines in the next three years.

The existing network of hotels and new openings offer excellent career advancement opportunities through transfers and promotions, while staff can develop new skills through short-term assignments such as helping with openings.

"We recently renovated the staff facility areas, such as the lockers and rest area to provide staff with a better environment. The next step is the renovation of the associates' restaurant," says Yam. "We also offer all associates a comprehensive hospitalisation plan."

The hotel provides a thorough induction and good in-house training, and sends staff on external courses. For management-level employees, it is prepared to fly in consultants for the higher-level training they might require.

As a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, the Marco Polo participates in an exchange programme that serves to provide cross-cultural experience for its staff.

Last year, the hotel exchanged staff with the Kempinski Hotel in Berlin, Germany.