HA NOI – The Vietnamese government has set a goal that by 2030, tourism will become a key economic sector and develop in a green and sustainable direction. To achieve this goal, enhancing the capacity of human resources in tourism is a crucial factor in promoting the growth of the tourism industry in a sustainable manner.
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Mrs. Doan Tran Phuong Thao – Country Human Resources Lead for Indochina and South Korea at the Intercontinental Hotel Group – provides insightful perspectives on the industry and the importance of developing sustainable human resources for Vietnam’s tourism sector.
How do you assess the current state of human resource management at big hotels in Vietnam?
In the current context, the tourism and hospitality industry in Vietnam is growing rapidly, especially in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and other popular tourist destinations. Along with the growth, human resource management at big hotels is facing both challenges and opportunities.
Recruitment and retention of employees is one of the most common issues in human resource management. With fierce competition in the industry, finding and attracting skilled, experienced, and capable staff is a significant challenge. Moreover, retaining talent in a highly competitive work environment requires offering attractive benefits and creating numerous opportunities for career development.
Additionally, managing a diverse workforce is another obstacle faced by large hotel brands. With employees from various cultural backgrounds and levels of expertise, creating a fair and cohesive working environment can be challenging for human resource management. To address this issue, organizations need to implement multicultural strategies and flexible HR policies, as well as create training programs, communication opportunities, and collaboration between employees from different cultural backgrounds.
Furthermore, performance management and career development are also important issues. Ensuring that employees are properly trained and have opportunities for career advancement in the industry is a key factor in retaining staff and fostering a positive working environment.
However, there are also opportunities in human resource management at large hotels. The growth of the tourism industry offers many opportunities for employees, from interacting with international customers to learning and developing new skills in a multicultural work environment.
In your opinion, how significant is the training of management staff at major hotels in the development of tourism in Vietnam, especially in promoting green and sustainable tourism?
The development of tourism in Vietnam, particularly in the context of green and sustainable tourism, is becoming an important trend. Training the management team at large hotels plays a crucial and indispensable role in this process.
One of the most important reasons is ensuring that management staff in the tourism industry fully understand and are deeply aware of the significance of green and sustainable tourism. In this way, they can apply effective management measures to minimize negative impacts on the environment and local communities, while also creating a positive and sustainable tourism experience for travelers.
Training also provides employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to promote green and sustainable tourism activities. These activities may include using advanced technologies to reduce waste and energy consumption, managing water and energy resources more efficiently, and fostering a culture of respect for local communities.
Tourists cycle to explore Silk Sense Hội A River Resort in Hoi A city, Quang Nam province. Silk Sense Hội An River Resort has been recognized as Vietnam’s first plastic-free hotel. Photo: Silk Sense Hội An River Resort
Furthermore, investing in training helps improve the quality of tourism services, which can create a better experience for visitors and increase opportunities for them to engage in and contribute to green and sustainable tourism. This can trigger a positive feedback loop: when visitors have positive experiences and feel satisfied, they may become advocates and provide valuable feedback to the tourism industry.
In addition, training helps create a positive work culture where employees feel motivated and encouraged to contribute to green and sustainable tourism efforts. This can foster a strong commitment from staff, enabling them to work more efficiently and remain loyal to the organization in the long term.
Vietnam aims to make tourism a key economic sector by 2030. From your perspective, what will the job opportunities for young people in the hospitality industry be like? For those who wish to work in the industry and become managers, what advice do you have regarding career advancement and development pathways?
Setting the goal of making tourism a key economic sector of Vietnam by 2030 is an important milestone, and this will inevitably open up many job opportunities for young people in the hospitality industry.
In the tourism sector, hotels play a crucial role, as they provide accommodation and experiences for travelers. With tourism becoming a key economic sector, hotels will require a quality, diverse, and professional workforce to meet customer demands. Therefore, the job opportunities for young people in the hospitality industry will be vast, including positions such as receptionists, service staff, kitchen staff, and even managerial roles.
For young people who wish to work in the industry and aim to become managers, I have the following advice on career advancement and development:
1. Learn and accumulate experience: Start from fundamental positions such as receptionist, housekeeping staff, or service personnel. By working in these roles, you can learn and accumulate experience from your daily work. This helps you understand the operations of a hotel and how each department functions.
2. Training and development: Improve your academic qualifications and professional skills through training courses and educational programs related to tourism and hotel management. This not only helps you gain more in-depth knowledge but also increases your potential for career advancement.
3. Build networks and relationships: Networking and building relationships in the industry are essential. By meeting and connecting with industry experts and experienced individuals, you can learn from them and receive support in your career.
4. Engage in projects and development initiatives: Participating in new projects and development initiatives within your hotel can help you accumulate management experience and create opportunities for career progression.
5. Seize advancement opportunities: Keep an eye out for promotion opportunities within your organization. Sometimes, career advancement comes from working hard and being effective, but it can also come from recognizing and seizing new opportunities.
In conclusion, the tourism industry is growing rapidly, and with the goal of becoming a key economic sector by 2030, it will create many job opportunities for young people in the hospitality sector. For those who wish to become managers in this industry, continuous learning, skill development, and building professional networks are crucial to advancing and developing a sustainable career.