Build prosperous career as hotelier amid boom of country's hospitality industry

Dhaka : The hospitality industry is showing unprecedented growth both nationally and globally. With new hotels opening, one after another, a great demand for hoteliers is on the rise. Hence, this lucrative career with great return can now be a popular choice for the coming young professionals of the country.

Renowned hotelier Shahid Hamid FIH, Executive Director of Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort said this while delivering the keynote address at a seminar on how to become a hotelier held on the side-lines of the first ever Job and Career Fair in Bangladesh Travel Trade on March 20 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka. 

Shahid Hamid said there are plenty of opportunities to work in the hospitality sector in various capacities currently. With the growing number of hotels, there has been a shortfall of hoteliers both in the country and abroad. 

Youngsters should be interested in pursuing such attractive careers in the hospitality sector as it has plenty of rewards and benefits, he added.   

The salary and wage structure ranges from BDT 8000 as a line staff to BDT 6 lac as a General Manager of a hotel, excluding additional service charge, mentioned Shahid Hamid.  

The sector not only has a high employment rate in the country but also all over the world, he stressed, adding, after getting degrees on hospitality, one can even pursue a prosperous career abroad.  

There is a range of degrees a student can obtain on hospitality such as Apprenticeship, Diploma, Higher Diploma, Specialisation on F&B, Housekeeping etc, Bachelors, Post Graduate and even PhD. 
Besides qualification, certification and skills, one must also grow leadership qualities and teamwork skills to become a true hotelier, he opined. 

The Panel of Discussants at the seminar included Shakawath Hossain from Unique Hotels and Resorts, Asif Ahmed from Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, Santus Kumar, Chairman of Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Dhaka, Al-Amin from Renaissance Dhaka, Shahidus Sadeque, from Holiday Inn Dhaka, Rezwan Maruf, from InterContinental Dhaka and Md Imran Hassan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association.

The panel discussants urged that there are certain taboos regarding working in certain capacities at hotels that need to be broken. Only by working in all the roles at a hotel, one can truly expand his/her potential, they urged. 

Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir, former Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation was also present at the seminar. 

In his speech, he stressed that networking is very important to build a career as a hotelier. As the country's industry is now witnessing the launch of many chain hotels, there is ample number of opportunities for the youngsters to work at hotels with dignity. 

Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor moderated the seminar. 

It may be mentioned here that the country's premier travel trade publication The Bangladesh Monitor organised the first ever Job and Career Fair in Bangladesh Travel Trade held on March 19-20 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.