Recruitment and Retention of Managers

Abstract

The competition for talented management trainees has never been keener, but the lodging industry seems to be at a disadvantage compared to other businesses that can offer more-regular hours, and often higher starting pay. A management-career package is a strategic framework to offset the lodging industry's initial disadvantages and help trainees enjoy the long-term rewards of a hospitality-management career. Developed from focus-group input and individual interviews with human-resources professionals, the management-career package seeks to integrate the trainee into the lodging business by forging personal ties and offering rapid escalation in job knowledge and responsibility. The key concepts underlying a management-career package include training opportunity, contact with upper management, mentoring, recognition and awards, increasing responsibility, and integration into the management culture. In addition, the hotel industry must acknowledge trainees' personal and family needs.