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14/06/2005
Hotel and tourism sector needs to invest in staff training
Northern Ireland’s hotel and tourism sector needs to invest in training for its staff if it is to compete internationally, new research by the University of Ulster has said.
A study of hotel front office workers in Northern Ireland - conducted by Professor Tom Baum of Strathclyde University and Frances Devine of the University of Ulster - found that low wages, limited promotion prospects and low levels of employer investment in training combine to offer what they call ‘unstable prospects’ for workers in the sector.
Among the study findings were:
However, say the authors “it is commonly viewed in Northern Ireland’s hotel sector that training is a cost rather than a benefit, and must be kept at the lowest possible level”.
The authors suggest that there is substantial evidence suggesting that the hospitality sector suffers from a range of problems relating to recruitment, retention, skills and image; all of which is more prominent in the light of expectations of international visitors and which – if not resolved – could potentially restrict the future growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in Northern Ireland.
The paper, entitled ‘Identifying The Skills and Training Profile of Hotel Front Office Employment In Northern Ireland’ is to be delivered at a conference to be held today and Wednesday at the University’s Portrush site.
(MB/SP)
A study of hotel front office workers in Northern Ireland - conducted by Professor Tom Baum of Strathclyde University and Frances Devine of the University of Ulster - found that low wages, limited promotion prospects and low levels of employer investment in training combine to offer what they call ‘unstable prospects’ for workers in the sector.
Among the study findings were:
- The average weekly wage for hotel front office workers was £210 – just above the national minimum wage
- 23% were planning to leave the sector, while 37.6 were hoping for promotion with the present employer.
- 1 in 3 (33%) had had no formal professional training in their work
- 1 in 4 (25%) had a University degree, and a further 32.8% had a professional diploma or certificate
- almost one in three (32.8%) felt that career prospects in the sector were poor, while under half (46.9 %) felt they were satisfactory
However, say the authors “it is commonly viewed in Northern Ireland’s hotel sector that training is a cost rather than a benefit, and must be kept at the lowest possible level”.
The authors suggest that there is substantial evidence suggesting that the hospitality sector suffers from a range of problems relating to recruitment, retention, skills and image; all of which is more prominent in the light of expectations of international visitors and which – if not resolved – could potentially restrict the future growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in Northern Ireland.
The paper, entitled ‘Identifying The Skills and Training Profile of Hotel Front Office Employment In Northern Ireland’ is to be delivered at a conference to be held today and Wednesday at the University’s Portrush site.
(MB/SP)
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