7,000 new jobs? UAE hospitality industry well placed to hire from other sectors

7,000 new jobs? UAE hospitality industry well placed to hire from other sectors

Dubai: Professionals with expertise in IT, finance, marketing and management could soon find new avenues opening up for them: the hospitality and tourism sectors. “About 80 per cent of the people who work in the industry (leisure and hospitality) have always been in it. If companies in hospitality adopt a much broader approach to recruitment (by hiring laterally), the value proposition would be higher,” said Margaux Constantin, Dubai Partner at McKinsey and Company. By embracing lateral hiring, hospitality companies can bring in fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and valuable skill sets, leading to increased operational efficiency and enhanced competitiveness. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the industry is expected to create almost 7,000 jobs in 2023, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak and reaching over 758,000 employed in travel and tourism roles. By bringing in skilled professionals from other industries, the leisure and hospitality sectors can meet the increasing demand for employees and continue to grow. Entities including hotel and hospitality groups like Rotana, properties in Ras Al Khaimah, Burj Khalifa, Hilton, the Radisson group of hotels, as well as travel consultants, agencies, and leisure destinations, are actively recruiting with numerous job postings available as occupancy gains continue. And as Dubai’s