Staffing issues on centre stage at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

Executive chairman of the Jumeirah Group, Gerald Lawless, said one solution would be to attract more and more nationals and Arab speakers in to the employment pool: 'Guests like this (to interact with locals) and many expect it,' he said.

He said that initiatives such as the $10bn fund for education in the Arab world recently announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, were a great step forward in preparing the region for the huge growth in the hospitality sector and its attendant staffing requirements.

'It is in our interests to develop vocational institutes and training facilities here in the region, at all levels of the industry - and there is potential to invest in satellite facilities in source labour countries too,' he said.

This approach was endorsed by Accor chief operating officer and Sofitel CEO, Yann Carriere who said the group had established 15 Accord academies worldwide to fulfil its staffing needs as it expands globally.

'In Morocco, for example, where we have 25 hotels, we train staff locally then send them overseas for experience before returning them to Morocco - in this way, we can be perceived as a 'local' operator - where 23 out of the 25 general managers are Moroccan nationals,' he said.

Another challenge opening up was poaching of staff, according to Lawless who warned this could develop in to a major issue as more hotels opened up in Dubai and around the region.

'Jumeirah is a target for new operators who want trained staff,' he said. 'Headhunting is rife and it is important for us to deliver as an employer of choice and this will become easier as we expand since we will be able to offer an international career path, where we could not in the past.'

Platinum sponsors of the 2008 event include: Bawadi, IFA Hotels & Resorts, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Ministry of Brazil, Nakheel Hotels and The Rezidor Hotel Group.

Gold Sponsors include Abu Dhabi Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Accor SA ME, Aldar Hotels & Hospitality, Almulla Holding LLC, Arabian Travel Market, Breaking Travel News, Christie + Co, Cushman & Wakefield Hotels, Davis Langdon LLP, DLA Piper, DLF Hotels, Emaar Hospitality Group, Emirates Airline, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International Inc, Godwin Austen Johnson, Golden Tulip MENA Region, Group RCI, GuestInvest, Hamilton Hotel Partners, Heller Ehrman, Hilton Hotels, Horwath HTL, HVS, iBAHN, InterContinental Hotels Group, Interval International, Jumana - Secret of the Desert, Jumeirah, Kempinski Hotels, Langham Hotels International Limited, Layia Hospitality, Marriott International, Molinaro Koger, Morgan Stanley, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Mozambique Tourism Anchor Investment Program, Northcourse Real Estate Leisure Solutions, OBM International, Rakeen, Rotana, Shaza Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Strategic Solutions, Taj Hotel Resorts & Palaces, Tiara Hotels & Resorts, TDO - Tourism Development Organisation (MENA), TRI Hospitality Consulting, Turks & Caicos Islands, Vision Hospitality Asset Management, WATG, West LB and Wyndham Hotel Group International.

Media sponsors include AME Info, ATM, Breaking Travel News, CNBC Arabia, CNN, Destinations of the World, HOTELS, Hospitality News Magazine, Luxury Hotelier, Sleeper and TTN.

Supporters: Dubai Convention Bureau, The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, IBLF, IH&RA, Native Energy, Villeroy & Boch, WTTC.