ASIAN HOTEL & CATERING ASIAN TIMES HOTEL & CATERING PUBLISHED SINCE 1976 Vol 43 March 2016 ROBUST BUSINESS Asia still in front RESERVATION SYSTEMS Central to success V OL Hong Kong SAR HK$50 43 March 2016 China RMB50 CLASSIC FACELIFT Singapore S$15 Malaysia RM30 Rebirth of an icon Thailand Bt300 Rest of Asia US$10 EXTREME FLEXIBILITY IN ONE TOUCH Egro ONE: the ultimate touch screen technology www.ranciliogroup.com aking in urban spas, beach resorts and MICE destinations hotels today MANAGING EDITOR Zara Horner offer much more than just a bed for the night and for staff the demands
[email protected] of a jet-setting conference attendee will be very different from those of a Art DIRECtor honeymooning couple on a once in a lifetime break or a family trying to Hatsada Tirawutsakul juggle the needs of toddlers, teenagers and grandparents. So… expertise COORDINAtor is needed across a number of areas, and can even include the necessity to be across retail Wajiraprakan Punyajai Tand event organisation and more – not to mention IT! There are many courses available, CONTRIBUtorS but how have they evolved; do they help students develop niche skills as well as all-round Dan Creffield, Michelle Farquhar, skills; and are hotel groups good at providing vital on-going training? That, and more, in Donald Gasper, Jane Ram, our report on page 12. Two years ago it was all about China’s booming economy, growing Michael Taylor, Vicki Williams middle class, increasing wealth distribution, huge population about to travel the world, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER how supply was growing at an even greater pace than demand, and how one of the most Sharon Knowler
[email protected] competitive markets in the world was being challenged by a distinct lack of qualified staff.