The Ritz-Carlton has had a presence on the mainland since its flagship hotel opened in Shanghai in 1998, and it sees a bright future for the brand there.

'There is a really good business environment at the moment, with an increasing demand for our brand in China from international travellers,' said Sonia Lau, The Ritz-Carlton's regional director of human resources, Asia-Pacific. 'The local Chinese are becoming more affluent and they are really starting [to be interested in] the luxury [that brands such as ours offer].'

But despite the surge in hotel developments, competition for new jobs is tough.

'We opened in Guangzhou earlier this year and received 16,000 resumes,' Ms Lau said. 'We screened those and interviewed 2,500 people, and ultimately selected 450.'

With such a high number of applicants, it may seem daunting to land a job with a top hotel, but Ms Lau explained that applicants demonstrating the right combination of skills stood a good chance of finding work.

'We look at the raw talent of a person,' she said. 'Experience is really not the most important thing. Of course people come to us with different skills, but the most important thing is their beliefs and their behaviour. We want to see that they share the same values [as our brand] and that they strive for excellence.

'We look for natural talent and for people who are really passionate about the industry. We look for people who are never satisfied with the basics, challenge themselves and have a hunger for learning.'

Ms Lau explained that the company was primarily recruiting from within the mainland but, for some positions where international experience and expertise was needed, new staff would be brought in from overseas.

The career paths that successful applicants may take once they enter the industry are varied, and success will come to those employees who show a commitment to their career and the hotel they work for.

'If you want to be successful in this company you have to be engaged. This is more than just a job; you must care about what you are doing, know what the business is all about and show that you are committed to helping the company expand.'

The high number of applicants for positions at new Ritz-Carlton hotels comes from the reputation that the brand is an employer of choice.

This reputation stems from the belief, which the brand has, that the people it recruits make all the difference to the overall success of the hotel.

'When we recruit, people really want to work for us,' Ms Lau said.

'As a company, we have a great focus on our people and a strong corporate culture. Our motto is 'we are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen',' Ms Lau explained.

'We have an employee promise that is put in writing that shows that we are very serious about how we nurture and develop [our employees].

'Once they step in the door we make sure that they have career development within the company and we make sure the environment they work in is empowering.'

Career development within the company is ensured through a policy of internal promotion, and 250 hours of training dedicated to each member of staff each year. 'Customer needs are different so we have to make sure that everyone keeps abreast of trends and any new skill sets they may require,' Ms Lau explained.

The Ritz-Carlton aims to further develop its brand on the mainland, which will bring with it more opportunities for those looking for a career in the field.

'For our long-term plans, we are looking at opening more hotels in China, including a second in the Pudong area of Shanghai.'