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Four Seasons is known around the world for its quality hotels and exceptional service thanks to the company's emphasis on staff training.
The hotel group has also built up a reputation for promoting from within, and that is exactly what it plans to do when the Four Seasons Hotel Macao at The Cotai Strip  opens  in June.
General manager  Antoine Chahwan said the company had a long history of looking after successful staff members.
He said he was a prime example of what could be achieved by taking a job with Four Seasons. A 17-year veteran with the company, Mr Chahwan started  working in the United States in 1990 in the food and beverage division.
He was promoted to director of restaurants, then director of food and beverage, and later to general manager. The average length of service for Four Seasons general managers is 17 years.
'We will be hiring locally wherever possible and we will help the staff and train them up so eventually they can take over from us,' Mr Chahwan said. 'We like to promote from within; we look after our talented people.'
Four Seasons Hotel Macao, which is next to the Venetian,  is expected to employ about 1,000 staff when it is fully operational.
Mr Chahwan said if all staff could not be found in Macau, due to the labour shortage, the company would offer positions to employees working at its 74 properties worldwide. Following that, Hong Kong would be the next area targeted.
A pre-opening team will be brought to Macau several months before the scheduled opening in order to train staff.
Four Seasons has hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai and key staff will also be brought from those properties to assist with the opening.
Mr Chahwan said Four Seasons operated all of its own training courses.
'We do not use any outside companies when it comes to training our staff. All our training is done in-house,' he said. 'We have devised our own operating standards based on the needs of our guests, and they change as the expectations of our guests change.'
Once the hotel opens, its executive committee members will be responsible for providing training courses in everything from leadership skills to advanced career development. Mr Chahwan said it was  vital that staff members were taught by people who understood the Four Seasons' culture and  way of operating.
The  hotel will boast 360 guest rooms, including 84 suites, 14 spa suites and retail outlets. The serviced apartment section of the complex is expected to be open  early next year.
The hotel will have five food and beverage outlets, a grand ballroom, a banquet room, conference facilities, an executive club, a teen centre  and a club for children.
Mr Chahwan said despite Macau's challenging labour market, he believed the hotel would have little difficulty retaining staff.
According to information from Macau's Statistics and Census Service, more than 25,100 employees changed jobs in 2006, an increase of 45 per cent when compared to 2005. The most common reason given for changing jobs was higher salaries.
'I am an optimist and I believe if we hire people and treat them well, then they will stay with us,' Mr Chahwan said. 'We give career opportunities, not just a job. We can offer a career path, and opportunities could present themselves internationally.  Not  many other companies can offer that.'
Over the past  17 years, Mr Chahwan has worked in the United States, Japan, Australia, the Bahamas and Macau.
He said the company had a strong international reputation which would hold it in good stead when competing for customers with Macau's growing list of accommodation venues.
'Our brand attracts the type of travellers who want to come to Macau, so that will put us in a good position,' he said. ' If you are a Four Seasons user and you decide to travel to a particular market, you will look to stay at Four Seasons.'
'We are very well represented in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and I think that will help in the Macau market as well. We have a presence in Hong Kong and Shanghai, so people know what to expect from us.
'In our particular situation we only have 360 rooms in the hotel and we provide a totally different environment to other places,' he said.
Recruitment has already taken place for the hotel's executive committee and the company is now recruiting for middle management.
The majority of entry-level positions will be advertised in spring and in the run-up to the opening in June. Positions available include everything from clerical and front desk to cleaning and beauty technicians.
'We have our human resources manager and training manager already on board and they are working on the requirements for new staff,' Mr Chahwan said.
'The executive committee is on board and now we are looking for the next level down. That will continue over the coming months until we get everyone on board for the opening.'
Facts
Four Seasons Hotel Macao at The Cotai Strip plans to employ 1,000 people
The hotel will include 360 guest rooms, spa facilities and retail outlets
Serviced apartments will open early next year
Recruiting for middle management, with most other positions offered in spring



There's plenty of room at the inn