A new recruitment programme for New Zealand and Australia’s largest hotel operator has had strong success in its first month.
With Australia and New Zealand likely to reopen to the world, and in readiness for the tourism rebound, Accor, New Zealand and Australia’s largest hotel operator, has launched a new talent attraction programme, Work Your Way, to lure talent to its workforce to take up more than 1,200 jobs available across both countries.
Launched in November, the company says it is forecasting that over the coming months it will need to bolster its current workforce of 18,000 team members across Australia and New Zealand by up to 15 percent, whether that’s for a gap year or a career, as lockdowns end and borders reopen.
It says the programme “revolutionises recruitment in the tourism sector” through:
1. Same day hire: It has introduced a new same day hire process for frontline roles, such as food and beverage attendants, receptionists and housekeeping attendants to simplify and fast track the hiring process. Put simply, a candidate can walk or phone in, be hired, and start working all on the same day.
2. Personalised benefits: Accor’s “already generous” team member benefits have been bolstered with each hotel now offering a selection of additional perks personalised by their location and team preference, including travel allowances, birthday leave and sabbaticals.
3. Open pathways to travel and work around the Pacific: Future and current team members now have greater opportunity to work and travel their way around Accor properties in the Pacific region.
4. Advanced career development: Accor’s training academy supports every team member’s career development with easy access to qualifications, practical skills and leadership programmes.
5. Flexible working: The company believes every role, from housekeeping to management, should have flexibility so it has implemented new policy to ensure greater flexibility is available to all employees.
Accor Pacific CEO, Simon McGrath, says the hospitality industry has “an exciting future ahead, and our guests are telling us that they cannot wait to start travelling again. As domestic, and soon international tourists, flock back to hotels and restaurants across Australia and New Zealand, the industry needs talented individuals who wish to build a rewarding career.”
Accor Pacific senior vice president talent & culture, Sarah Derry, told Management in late December that since launching the programme they have experienced a surge in new talent joining the team.
“Our revolutionary same day hire process for frontline roles has had the largest impact with more than 700 new team members being hired within a 24-hour period in the past month alone. This is an incredibly attractive proposition to both new team members and our business as it hastens the recruitment process, benefitting both parties.” Approximately 20 of these roles were in NZ.
Accor brands across the Pacific region include SO/, Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Novotel, Mercure, Tribe, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget. M
