VietNamNet Bridge - The demand for hotel managers is always high in Vietnam, even at a time when the tourism industry experiences tough days. However, it is difficult to find Vietnamese staff for mid- and high-ranking management posts.

The demand for hotel manager is always high in Vietnam

In an interview with the Vietnamese first dollar billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, Thanh Nien newspaper raised a question about personnel training and development policy pursued by Vingroup.

Vuong said that in the business fields that Vingroup is developing, it is very difficult to recruit Vietnamese managers. This was why Vingroup had to recruit foreigners for managers of its hotels and shopping centers.

According to Forbes, Vietnam’s tourism has witnessed big changes in the last six years. Vietnam received 5 million foreign travelers and 28 million domestic travelers in 2010, while the figures increased to 10 million and 62 million, respectively, in 2016.

The policies on expanding the visa fee exemption, applying e-visas, and increasing the number of international direct air routes and international airports have helped boost tourism development.

Regarding accommodations, Vietnam now has 91,200 3-5-star hotel rooms instead of 62,000 in 2013. The number of 5-star hotel rooms has doubled in just the last three years.

Nevertheless, the hotel management market is now controlled by foreign groups. These include Intercontinental Hotels Group which runs 12 hotels and Hilton Hotels & Resorts which manages the Hilton hotel chains developed by BRG Group.

Vietnamese businesses are aware of the attractiveness of the market, but are still inferior to foreign companies in the market.

Explaining this, the director of a hotel said hotels now have to compete fiercely not only in Vietnam but in the region as well. Travelers, especially MICE travelers, tend to use the services of famous brands to feel secure about service quality. The management companies with well-known brands are usually their priority choice.

An analyst commented that both domestic and foreign groups have to hunt for experienced managers, including veteran managers who are going to retire.

In the past, the owners of 3-star hotels managed their hotels themselves. However, they now tend to hire professional managers because of stiff competition.

Regarding the income of hotel managers, Le Dinh Tuan, who was a hotelier, said while foreigners receive sky-high salaries, the pay to Vietnamese is modest. 

A foreign CEO of a luxury hotel can earn $10,000-15,000 a month and enjoy luxury villa, private car & driver, and business-class air tickets, while a head of division can earn $5,000 a month.

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