Spin Blaster

Asian Hospilitality jobs available

2010-07-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

More than 15 million jobs await Filipinos who want to work in top-rate hotels and restaurants in the United States, Europe and other countries in Asia, with about 158,000 hospitality and leisure jobs needed in the United States alone.

Labor requirements rose after hotel occupancy levels grew by 3.4% this year, a positive sign that the industry has now recovered from the global recession.

In a report released by the Asian School of Hospitality Arts (ASHA), the premier hotel school in the Philippines, the hospitality industry is expected to grow 11% this year, a strong indication that the industry has now recovered from the global recession.

With this growth, more five-star hotels and restaurants would need additional hotel, food and beverage managers, baristas and hospitality staff. These are supervisorial and skilled positions which Filipinos are qualified to fill in.

ASHA Directress Angie Blanco says Filipinos are most-sought after when it comes to these positions. Top five-star hotels hire more from the Philippines because Filipinos are highly qualified, trust-worthy and hard-working. Filipinos are more qualified because most are HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) graduates.

“ We have thousands of Filipinos in the hospitality and leisure industries which can benefit from the recovery of the industry after a slump in 2009. Entry levels in these positions are high. We are in the best position to exploit the hospitality job markets because of our high competency especially as hotel and restaurant managers, baristas and hotel staff, “ says Blanco.

Hospitality-related jobs command competitive pay rates. For hotel managers, the average daily wage is US$ 50 per hour or about 2,300 php (P46=1US$) per hour. In the United States, baristas earn US$ 10 per hour or about US$100 a day. This translates to almost 100,000 pesos per month. Filipino chefs, meanwhile, are being paid more than 150,000 pesos a month.

Blanco reports that hotel occupancy in the United States alone grew by about 1.7% this year after occupancy rates rose in the first quarter of 2010. The growth increased revenues by 57.1%. This is a positive development, says Blanco, since more hotels will require additional hotel and hospitality staff to attend to the needs of guests.

Based on the ASHA report, hotel occupancy rates in the Asia-Pacific rose from 15.3% to 63.1%, the average daily rate increased by 8.6% to US$125.52, and revenue per available room jumped 25.2% to US$79.24. This, says Blanco, is based on the STR Global report.

Shanghai China experienced the largest occupancy increase, rising from 55% to 71.7%, followed by Beijing (65.3%), Hongkong (78.3%) and Osaka Japan (77.3%). Malaysia posted a positive 40.4% to US$ 71.65.

In the Philippines, improvements in the tourism industry generated close to 3 million additional jobs, according to the data released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). As of May 2010, a total of 48,048 jobs were generated in Central Philippines, Metro Manila and Tagaytay alone. The hospitality outlook in the Philippines remains bright, says Blanco, as private investors continue to have a bullish attitude in the country.

Blanco says that domestic tourism alone hiked 2009 air traffic by about 25%. OAG, a reputable body monitoring the global air industry, shows that seat capacity increased by 9% or an additional 1.2 million to a total of 15.3 million seats in Asia-Pacific alone. Worldwide, seat capacity increased by 6% and added 20.5 million seats to a total 335.5 million.

Amongst the hotel chains, luxury properties and upscale hotels remain at a very positive growth. Performance of luxury hotels are strongest, while mid-scale properties with food and beverage should lag all property types with only 3.3% growth.

Lodging demands in the first quarter of 2010 increased by 5.3% over the first quarter of 2009. Blanco says if this trend continues, expect the hospitality and leisure-related job market to further improve in the next few years. In fact, Blanco adds, 2011 will see a 7.8% growth in the industry.

“The employment of hotel management staff is expected to grow just as fast as the average managerial position for all sectors through 2014. More opportunities are predicted to be available because many experienced managers will be leaving the industry to pursue other interests or through retirement. The better and higher education that is obtained, the more plentiful the opportunities will be” adds Blanco.

ASHA is a strong partner of The Coffee Beanery (TCB) along West Avenue, Quezon City. ASHA is a strong advocate of spreading Asian Values, World Class-Education.

It is also affiliated with Seven Suites Hotel Observatory, Classic Cuisine (C2), The Orange Place (TOP) and C3 Events Place.

ASHA opens its Certificate of Barista at TCP West Avenue, Quezon City. Classes start August 10, 2010. For inquiries, please call +6325066474, 5067007 or 09175907425. Check their website at http://www.asha.edu.ph.

Showtime rocks

2010-07-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

A dance group from General Santos City in Mindanao became the first to win in the grand finals of Showtime, the most popular show on Philippine television today.

The XB Gen San, a came from behind winner, was ecstatic as they saw the multiples of ten the judges gave them. They lost once in the show, but was called back. In their second showing, the group got the judges' nod. Eventually, they surpassed the weekly and monthly finals.

They were highly and technically proficient. What really got the judges' nod was the sheer intensity of their act. The grit was there. The emotions were evident and the crowd felt it and loved it.

In truth, the Philippine Island Assassins were more skilful than the group, but the assassins were copycats. Their costumes were foreign, while those of XB Gen San, plus their music was truly Filipino.

With that, they got the roaring approbation of the crowd and the judges.

I commend the entire Showtime crew for a job well done. We expect more excitement in your second season. Showtime rocks!

Is silence the best way to rid a PR crisis?

2008-08-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

How do you manage a pesky thing like a Public Relations crisis?

For those whose background is marketing, that's a nightmare. Most marketing and advertising managers hate having this kind of situation. But, if shit really falls and it falls heavy on your product and service, will your silence solve anything?

In my experience (i've been in this PR management thing for many years now), maintaining silence is NOT, I repeat, NOT a very good practice. Why?

First, in this game called PR CRISIS MANAGEMENT, the first thing that you need to do is MANAGE THE INFORMATION FLOW. You're expected to manage it with alternative facts, views and opinions NOT keep silence about it. Because if you do, you'll appear GUILTY. How do you do that?

Think of it this way. Your ship sank. The 1st thing that you need to do is communicate to the public about it. Tell them everything that happened. Why?

Because that's the most excellent time to do that. Seize the first initiative. When you're the 1st to tell people about this problem, and you seem to be very honest, very sincere and very forthright about it, they will believe it. Don't hide. You may really look like you're guilty as hell.

The second thing that you need to do is know where the info is going. In what direction? Is it mostly print media? Radio? Television? Internet? If the info is going the radio route, go that route. If it's limited to one television station, go to that network and explain but NEVER GO OUT TO THE OTHER STATIONS. If its just print, where? Who actually published it? If its a dingy, unknown tabloid, better to just send a statement addressed to the reporter or editor and that's it. You don't want other newspapers to know about it, right?

And the third thing that you need to do is always think of an exit strategy. Meaning---image restoration tactics. If there's a problem, think of a solution and fast!

One tip--when you're doing image restoration, it's better to do it thru word-of-mouth marketing. Yes, word-of-mouth. Don't try to print your statements. Try to change the information environment to favor your products, your clients. In that way, you'll maintain your momentum, you still hold the initiative and you control the situation.

Are we being given overpriced gasoline & diesel?

2008-07-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

I just got this info---giant oil companies will not rollback their gasoline and diesel prices this weekend. Reason? Madame Gloria is doing her thing before Congress this Monday and they don't want to snatch the limelight from her.

Well, well, well! I thought these oil companies are doing these price hikes to recover "losses"? And I thought they're really on the brink of bankruptcy that's why they're jacking up those pump prices?

Now, this?

Hey, people, we're being fooled by these oil companies. If they're really on the red then, what the hell are they saying now? That they can still hold their horses just because Madame Gloria is doing that stupid SONA?

If that's the case, should'nt we pray that Gloria does this SONA thing everyday? If Gloria makes those speeches which are obviously just lies anyway, then, it could be the most effective price deterrent strategy ever!

Global oil prices are going down, yet, our pump prices are still going up. Is that what you call "the dictates of market forces"?