By Amy Looker
Accor is attributing an enrolment boost to its training academy to the current economic downturn, stating that more people are turning to careers in hospitality due to its real career prospects, accredited training and opportunities for job progression and travel.
According to Accor’s National Director of Talent Management and Mobility, Debbie Simister, candidates are no longer viewing hospitality jobs as a ‘fill-in’ role between other positions, with more high-calibre applicants and graduates than ever before being drawn to a career in hospitality.
“In the past six months, Accor has seen a huge surge in job applications from people from all types of backgrounds because hospitality is really starting to be recognised as an industry where hard work can take you where you want to go,” Simister said. “People are proud to work in hospitality now and are actively seeking careers in hotels because they know this is one industry that promotes young people, supports global mobility and is fun to work in.”
Accor operates its own nationally-accredited training academy, as well as two specific development programs designed to fast-track the careers of graduates, who can then go on to work at one of Accor’s 4000 hotels and resorts worldwide.
"A career with Accor can take people from working behind the bar in a hotel in Sydney to managing a multi-million property in Shanghai in a relatively short space of time,” Ms Simister said. “We are investing heavily in ensuring that the hospitality sector can retain the best people and attract talent from a range of competing industries.”
Despite the economic downturn, the tourism industry continues to be one of the fastest-growing industries globally. In Australia, over 850,000 people are employed in the tourism industry, contributing close to $70 billion to the local economy.