May-Aug Issue 2017 MCI(P)029/02/2017 FDAWU/NTUC/SHA Employee of the Year Award Ceremony PDATE 2017 YOUR SAY on Work-life Balance Strategies in the Hotel Industry SHA Welcomes New Members SHA Welcomes New General Managers SHA Annual General Meeting U HA S SHA NEWS Collectively a Manufacturer, Developer and Service Provider with round-the-clock support, PalVision is the only company providing complete hospitality solutions from a single source. Our unique approach helps you connect with your guests in the shortest time possible at the lowest price point – today and tomorrow. 2 CONTENTS 7 11 4 May-Aug Issue 2017 SHA NEWS SHATEC NEWS MCI(P)029/02/2017 FDAWU/NTUC/SHA Employee of the 16 Homecoming for SHATEC Celebrity 4 Year Award Ceremony 2017 Alumni at The Sapling Restaurant Chief Editor Ms Margaret Heng 5 Your Say on Work-life Balance Strategies 17 National Cocktail Competition 2017 in the Hotel Industry Parents Engagement Day Writers SHA Welcomes New Ordinary Member Industry Mentorship Programme Ms Li Shaoting 7 18 Ms Shrestha Sook Yean SHA Welcomes New Associate Members @ SHATEC USAPEEC-SHATEC Cook-off 2017 8 SHA Welcomes New General Managers Published by Singapore Hotel Association Collectively a Manufacturer, Developer and Service Provider with round-the-clock support, Industry Update and Networking Session 10 for GMs HOTEL CIRCUIT PalVision is the only company providing complete hospitality solutions from a single source. Our Design & Printed by unique approach helps you connect with your guests in the shortest time possible at the lowest 11 SHA Annual General Meeting 2017 19 Furama Singapore Achieves Great Place Colorcom Graphics Pte Ltd price point – today and tomorrow. to Work® Certification Singapore Green Hotel Award and Email 12 Seminar 2017 [email protected] 35th SHA Inter-Hotel Soccer 13 Tournament 2017 Website SkillsFuture Career Advisors Programme www.sha.org.sg 14 for the Hotel Industry Public Service Star (BBM) Award for Address 15 Ms Margaret Heng 17 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089740 Survey on Technology and Outsourcing in Hotels 13 SHA Update is the official publication of the Singapore Hotel Association and copies of SHA Update are not for sale. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. SHA NEWS FDAWU/NTUC/ SHA Employee of the Year Award Ceremony 2017 he FDAWU/NTUC/SHA Employee of the Year Award TCeremony was held on 18 July 2017 at NTUC Centre, Auditorium. The guest-of-honour for the event was Mr Christopher De Souza, Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Advisor, FDAWU. This year, a record high of 71 employees received the FDAWU/NTUC/SHA Employee of the Year Award. These employees were nominated by their respective hotels to receive the award in recognition of their excellent performance and commendable service. A long-standing award launched in 1985, this award serves to encourage hotels to recognise deserving employees for their excellent performance at the workplace. In addition to the award ceremony, the event also saw the inclusion of a workshop component for all winners this year. To encourage continuous learning and upgrading, the award winners were invited to attend an interactive “Service Ninja” workshop that was conducted by SHATEC, the training arm of SHA. The workshop, which was specially curated for the winners, focused on improving customer service at the workplace. 4 SHA NEWS on Work-life Balance YOUR SAY Strategies in the Hotel Industry For this issue, SHA Update invited members to share their views on work-life balance strategies in the hotel industry. We recognize that team members are We also recently renovated our Team the heart of Hilton and the long-term Member canteen to include a full salad health of the company is interconnected bar and recreational items including a to the health and well-being of our Team pool table, computers, TV and video game Members. As they continue to work at full console for them to unwind during their speed to execute key priorities, we want break. to ensure that we are supporting them and prioritizing their well-being to increase their MIND – Every Wednesday, we practice engagement and productivity - as their ‘No Email Day’ to be mindful of effective success is our success. communications within the hotel. We also have a monthly training calendar As we continue on the journey to make to encourage continuous learning and Hilton the most hospitable company in the development opportunities, practice flexi- Mr Peter Webster, world, Thrive@Hilton is a new initiative that hours for the back-of-house department Regional General focuses on three key pillars that together and also letting our team members Manager of Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines Hilton comprise our team members’ ability to be “Dress-for-your-day” and decorate their their best both in and outside of work - work spaces to feel inspired and work- Body, Mind and Spirit. in-comfort. Our team member activities are centered SPIRIT – We want our team members to on the 3 key pillars of Thrive@Hilton. dare to dream, connect with purpose and feel appreciated. GoHilton is the best-in- BODY – To ensure the health and well- class team member travel program that being of our team members, we have enables our team members to travel and recently renovated our team member be inspired. Our “Catch Me At My Best” fitness center and engaged external initiative encourages team members to personal trainers for them to maintain send an eCatch/appreciation note to each their regular fitness regimes. We have also other for their efforts. We also organize dedicated a “Snooze Room” with private monthly celebrations whereby different resting pods for them to take quick naps departments take over the team member before the start of their shift. canteen operations for a day. Work-life balance in the hotel industry • Also, to encourage a healthier lifestyle, these days is indeed not easy, especially our management is looking into with the fast paced life here in Singapore. allowing staff to use the hotel gym However, it can be eased by having or swimming pool during non-peak understanding employers. periods. Some of our plans in the pipelines to • Besides that, there is a better our hotel staff’s work-life balance possibility to implement a flexi- include: benefit wellness scheme, i.e. staff can make claims for vision care or • For staff that need not work shift body wellness classes, capped at hours, they may request for flexi-hours S$300 per annum. in order to accommodate family needs. Mr Rhys Challenger, General Manager, Mercure Singapore Bugis 5 SHA NEWS Unlike most other businesses, the work during night shifts or weekends so hospitality industry operates around the they have ample time with their family. clock. Operating 24/7 requires many For staff with existing medical condition or of our team members to work non- are seeking medical assistance, we make standard hours: not just through the night, sure they have enough rest by arranging but on the weekends & holidays as well. 4 hours or 5 hours work per day so they However, that does not mean that there have ample rest. Flexibility is the key. cannot be a balance between their professional lives from dominating their Work life balance creates happier, more personal ones. productive staff. It is also important to speak to the staff. This is to understand That is why, on top of profitability them and to keep communication open. for the company, I make it a point to Spending time speaking with the team Mr Lee Richards ensure a more than adequate work life members about issues, gathering their Vice President of Operations, balance arrangement to be put in place thoughts and learning more about what Singapore, Millennium Hotels at the Millennium Hotels & Resorts. We is happening in their lives is the most and Resorts created sustainable flexible work hour proactive way to better staff engagement. arrangements instead of adopting the rigid old fashioned way of a ‘cast in The goal is to build a trusting relationship stone’ timetable. Our team members with with the staff so they can produce positive children or who are married may request results for themselves, their loved ones & schedules that doesn’t require them to for the company. In an industry that is people focused As Area General Manager of five hotels in and operates 24/7, work-life balance is a Singapore as well as concurrently being the real challenge. However, a hotelier who General Manager of Pan Pacific Singapore, understands the demands of the job and the above points are even more critical for yet is passionate about it, will manage work me, to balance the different roles I handle and family by integrating it into their lifestyle while carving out time for my personal life. Each of us has only 24 hours in a day but Some suggestions: with proper advance planning and sticking 1. Start the work day earlier – Getting close to my schedule, have allowed me to in earlier allows you to settle in and enjoy work-life balance. plan for the day, as well as the Pan Pacific Singapore offers flexi work opportunity to sort through the emails and shorter work week upon request received overnight. Mr Gino Tan from associates, who may require Area General Manager, 2. Family and spousal understanding as flexible work schedules due to family or Singapore and General personal reasons. Additionally, our hotel Manager, Pan Pacific Singapore well as their support are very important in ensuring work-life balance, since organizes many activities during the year the demands of the job can be to constantly engage our associates and overwhelming.