Koh Samui Facing Hotel-staff Shortage

[george]

New Samui properties trigger pursuit for staff

KOH SAMUI: -- The tourist island of Samui in the south of Thailand is facing a hotel-staff shortage with as many as 10 new hotels and resorts with a total of 1,000 rooms set to open before the end of next year.

"We'll need another 1,500 employees to look after these extra rooms coming on stream," said Hans R Trueb, general manager of The Imperial Boat House.

"What's happening is that these new places are luring desperately needed staff from incumbent hotels and resorts? More advertisements and promotions should be carried out to lure trained employees to fill the looming shortage on our island," said Trueb who was the general manager of the Chaweng Regent for two years before taking the helm at The Imperial Boat House almost one year ago.

Most of the new hotels and resorts opening range from 80 to 120 rooms each. They include the Nora (120 rooms), Evason (70 villas), Sala (70 villas), a 60-room expansion of the Palm Beach, the Buri Raya (78) and North Chaweng Cabana (100), all scheduled to open this year. The Aman Resort (40 luxurious villas), Four Seasons (tentative), a luxury Regent brand hotel (still officially unnamed), and the Hard Rock (tentative) are on the drawing board for next year.

Anticipating increased business, the Imperial Boat House has completed a Bt70-million renovation of the 34 boat houses. Half of its 176 rooms and facilities have been upgraded as well.

Eight new "Honeymoon Suites" and 90 "Premier Suites" are on offer at US$160 (Bt6,307) and $140, respectively, per night.

"These new rooms and different theme activities and demonstrations have kept our staff pretty busy with an average occupancy rate of 75 per cent. Our special benefits such as days off have also, fortunately, kept our employees from fleeing to the new openings," Trueb said.

The Imperial Boat House has, more or less, a 1:1 ratio be-|tween staff and rooms based |on occupancy throughout the year.

Trueb, a member of the Samui Hotels Association, is also the vice president of the newly established SKAL Club that will bring together hoteliers, professionals and travel agents. "We'll be hosting an inaugural meeting this July at the Boat House," he said.

Looking back on his 11 months at the Boat House, Trueb admits to "changing the physical outlook that truly required a facelift".

"Last year we had the Sars scare, which effected tourism badly. Most of the employees that left did not come back. Business was not at full strength. However, our sister hotel the Imperial Samui Resort closed down for a long renovation, and we had a windfall from their guests who moved here. This allowed us to carry on despite a slump of 45-50 per cent in check-ins. We had to rely heavily on walk-ins, aggressive and special promotions such as five-night stay three nights free or 10-day stay seven days free. Flexibility was the key to overcoming the crisis; we did not dump our rates.

"Sars and very hot weather in Europe combined with the slower economies last year to affect the overall tourist arrivals to Koh Samui. But we were grateful, for there was unusual rainfall last year and therefore we didn't suffer the annual drought and subsequent fresh-water shortage."

The bird-flu crisis that made the news in January is now beginning to take its toll on the overseas bookings, says Trueb, who before the Chaweng Resort oversaw the Monarch Lee Gardens (now Sofitel) on Silom for three years.

"European tourists book their trips to Thailand two months in advance. Of course, it was six months before; nowadays it could be even one month. We're beginning to feel the pinch. This week occupancy has plummeted 50 per cent from the 75 per cent on average we enjoy."

Visitors from the UK make up 50 per cent of the Imperial Boat House's guests while 20-25 per cent come from Germany and the rest from other European countries and Asia. "We're trying to get more Thais too," Trueb said.

He is confident that the proposed second airport to be located in the south of Samui is "necessary" in order to fill up the more than 4,000 total rooms that will see an additional 1,000 or so more in 2005.

"It is encouraging to learn that another airport is planned to be constructed. However, the infrastructure of roads, electricity, fresh water and so forth must keep abreast of hotel and resort developments; so must the environmental protection to combat pollution. Otherwise it could become messier," he said.

--The Nation 2004-03-15

[bigchang]

will there any farang head-chefs needed?looking for a job i am german working in england and looking to move to thailand with my thai wife,also second chef position considered.i speak english and german fluent unfortunately no thai yet.anybody got any help?please answer!thanks all

[Daviethailand]

Bigchang

If I were you I would get your Resume typed up and look for the Web Sites of the major resorts and E Mail them. Alternatively send your Resume to the HQ of the respective Resorts, if you know anyone in Samui ask them to take it to the new Resort.

Otherwise keep an eye on the Bangkok Post and the Nation via the internet for the Ads which are now appearing, they really are looking hard for key staff.

Personally I think they have overbuilt here, but this is true for everywhere in Thailand.

I have a friend that is in the Tour Business in Europe, basically Skandis and German Tourists and he says that Turkey is increasing by between 8 and 12% every year since 2001. Perhaps that is an option, I really think Thailand has has its day.

[irelandais]

If you dont mind living in a potential earthquake zone Turkey would be OK. Why not try somewhere nearer home, good food weather OK, relatively disease free and depending where u live the natives arnt bad either.

[bigchang]

i wan't go anywhere exccept thailand as i love it so much,been there many times and my wife is thai,so evenyually we will settle there

thanks for your replies so far