The year 2000 was difficult for the hospitality industry. Under pressure to cut costs, many hotels downgraded their management training programmes.
The Sino Group of Hotels, however, recognised the recession as an opportunity for long-term strategic planning and set about developing its Corporate Management Training Programme (CMTP).
Three years later, Sino Hotels has built an enthusiastic team of skilled hoteliers ready to take advantage of a revitalised market.
The group, which runs four hotels and a club in Hong Kong, including Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel and The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers, knew that staff losses were inevitable during the economic slump but recognised that the most experienced staff would remain.
This was an ideal time to transfer knowledge and develop a group of talented young managers.
'We knew the economy would rebound and that new hotels would open. We wanted to be prepared,' said group director of human resources Janet Lai.
The senior team also hoped the training programme would help to build synergy and co-operation.