IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the largest employer in China’s hotel industry, continues the ongoing celebration of its 30th anniversary in China with its achievements in talent development. Representatives of IHG’s long service staff members who have been with the company in China for 30 years, as well as IHG hotel owners and nearly two hundred employees from its hotels attended the celebration.
Kenneth Macpherson, chief executive, IHG Greater China remarked: “People are the heart of our business. IHG has achieved significant success in attracting, developing and retaining talent with our industry leading HR programmes for 30 years. Looking towards the future, IHG is committed to long-term growth in China and will continue to make efforts on local talent development.”
IHG’s talent development initiatives have been recognised by the industry in the various accolades and awards it has received for “Best Employer.” IHG is also investing in developing China’s future hospitality talent pool with the first IHG Academy established in Shanghai in 2006. In China alone, the 34 IHG Academies produce 5,000 graduates ready to enter the hospitality industry every year.
In addition to a comprehensive system of on-the-job training, IHG has recently launched a series of pioneering talent development programmes that demonstrate the Group’s care and consideration for its people:
- Best Offers from Hometown programme allows IHG talent to have career opportunities closer to their families.
- General Manager Fast Track programme provides valuable career development opportunities for promising, high potential hotel general manager candidates.
- Overseas Cross Exposure programme offers cross-cultural exposure and international career development for its China talent within IHG’s extensive global hotel distribution. The programme sends high potential Chinese talents to IHG hotels in destinations that Chinese travellers frequent in order to improve the host hotels’ understanding of Chinese culture and Chinese travellers’ demands, and is a demonstration of IHG’s commitment to creating a home-away-from-home across the globe for its customers from China.
IHG has initiated numerous programmes to provide an engaging and open working culture that encourages staff to bring their passions to the workplace. As an employer, IHG guarantees every staff member “Room to be yourself” – no matter which hotel brand he or she works for, they will have the freedom and a platform to display their personalities and realise their value.
“It is clear that our people are the key to our ongoing success,” commented Raymond Co, vice president, Human Resources, IHG Greater China. “We will continue to be a best employer that people love to work for, and one that is known for its approach to people. We aim to make the company into a home for our people, and we hope that our people can carry this forward to create a home away from home for our guests.”
As the largest international employer in China’s hotel industry, IHG currently employs 60,000 people in the China market. Its rapid expansion across the country will create another 30,000 new jobs over the next 3 years.
Pictured in the photo above: The first row from left to right – Michael Sang, Director of Human Resouces, Crowne Plaza Hefei; Danny Dong, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Tianjin Binhai; the second row from left to right – Shirley Li, General Manager, Holiday Inn Resort Hainan Clear Water Bay; Koh Ying Ying, Head of HR Operations, IHG Greater China; Justin Channe, Vice President, Operations, East China (Currently Interim Chief Operating Officer, Greater China); Kenneth Macpherson, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Greater China; David Guo, General Manager, InterContinental Suzhou; Raymond Co, Vice President, Human Resources, IHG Greater China
