MORE than 500 job-seekers turned up last Friday at a job fair organised by one of the world's biggest hotel and resort operators.
They were vying for about 300 jobs - ranging from entry-level roles to management positions - at four hotels operated by Starwood here.
These are The St Regis, W Singapore-Sentosa Cove, The Westin and Sheraton Towers.
Mr Stephen Ho, president of Starwood Asia Pacific, told reporters on the sidelines of the job fair held at The Westin that he hopes the 300 positions will be filled by the end of the year.
He said Starwood, which manages over 1,200 properties worldwide, will also be offering several hundred more jobs in Singapore in the next few years as it plans to build and buy over more hotels.
"We are expanding in Singapore because we expect more tourists to come. They are drawn by the infrastructure and attractions here. But we need to attract and retain talent for us to do well."
Mr Francis Tan, Starwood's vice-president of talent management and organisational development, said the group hopes to attract workers with its commitment to develop them.
"We have many front-line service crew members who have risen up the ranks to be in senior management positions. We send our staff for training and give them opportunities to pick up new skills," said Mr Tan.
Job-seekers at the career fair said they were attracted by talent development programmes and opportunities to work overseas.
Ms Sharon Joseph, 25, who is looking for a communications or customer service role, said: "The staff told me that their bosses are nurturing and willing to spend the time to teach them. That is encouraging for a young person like me."
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.