HK aims to draw top Swiss-trained talent to hospitality talent pool

The Hong Kong Talent Engage office (HKTE) partnered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and representatives from several Hong Kong hotels to host four recruitment events in Switzerland, introducing local talent to career opportunities in Hong Kong.

The participating hotels included the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Hyatt Regency Tsim Sha Tsui, Rosewood Hong Kong, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, W Hong Kong, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, and the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers.

Over five days, the delegation visited five renowned Swiss hotel management institutions, including EHL Hospitality Business School, Les Roches Global Hospitality Management Education, Swiss Hotel Management School, César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, and Glion Institute of Higher Education.

Cynthia Boekee, executive manager for membership operations support and efficiency at the HKJC, stated that this overseas trip marked its first overseas hiring initiative. 

She was pleased by the enthusiastic response from local talent, who demonstrated both passion for the industry and interest in developing their careers in Hong Kong.

 "This reflects the strong appeal of Hong Kong as a key hub for Asia’s hospitality industry among overseas professionals," she added.

Another senior manager of talent acquisition at HKJC noted that the recruitment activities attracted over 180 applicants. 

The response aligns with the HKJC's growing staffing needs in recent years, driven by its collaboration with the government to promote horse racing tourism, as well as charitable and sports-related operations.

Meanwhile, enterprise representatives conducted on-site interviews and reported encouraging results.

Frank Poon, director of talent management and acquisition (Hong Kong) at Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, who recruited eight individuals on-site during the event, stated that many local students are interested in Asian culture. 

A representative from Rosewood Hong Kong, also noted that students have a positive impression of Hong Kong and actively inquired about internships and long-term career prospects in the city. 

Felix Chan Hoi-king, Director of the HKTE, stated that the Switzerland trip was highly encouraging, with several talents indicating they had already applied for the Top Talent Pass Scheme to pursue careers in Hong Kong.

He added that the HKTE has conducted over 70 overseas visits and organized more than 200 promotional events locally and abroad.