Thinking creatively to tackle HR challenges in Tourism Operations

The first of three innovation seminars on ‘Creative Thinking to Address HR Challenges in Tourism’ will serve to exchange information and provide insight into the use of creative thinking to tackle HR challenges currently being faced by the local tourism and hospitality operators, will be held on Thursday 25th September at the Radisson SAS Baypoint in St Julians.

Key note speaker Mr Enda Larkin, author of ‘Ready to Lead? Prepare to think and act like a successful leader’ will address this interactive and practically focused seminar, participants will gain valuable insights into current best practices in employee engagement which they can readily apply to their own businesses to help them bring the best out of their employees. ‘Great employees are at the heart of any great business in hospitality and tourism and you cannot have loyal, satisfied customers without loyal, satisfied employees. Employee engagement has therefore emerged as one of the major challenges facing owners, managers and HR professionals today’ -Enda Larkin.

Whilst Ms Marie Louise Agius, Head of Diversity, Learning & Development, HSBC Malta, will present a company specific case study on how HSBC have implemented a Diversity Policy.

This event is targeted to owner/managers (middle to top management) who are responsible for tourist establishments or tourism related support services, from both large and small businesses, as well as HR Managers or persons responsible for HR with in their establishment.

Should you wish to attend this seminar kindly confirm your attendance by contacting

Nicola Borg Costanzi
Tel: 2291 5125
Email: training@visitmalta.com

Attendance should be confirmed by not later than Friday 19th September.  Early bookings are recommended - Maximum seating is 50 persons.

The other two seminars include (i) Creative Thinking to Develop Innovative Products in Tourism” - planned for October 2008 and another focusing on (ii) "Marketing tourism products and services creatively; being planned for November 2008. The Industry Human Resources Development Unit within the MTA is responsible for the development of national human resource development initiatives for the tourism industry. This is done through promoting a service culture within the industry thereby raising service standards; through building a strong liaison with employment, education and training institutions on actions required for the industry; and through the implementation of EU funded projects relating to human resources development.

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Enda Larkin is founding director of HTC Consulting and a consultant with extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. With a background in hotel management, he holds a Higher Diploma in Hotel Management from Dublin College of Catering, a BSc in Management from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA from ESCP-EAP Paris. His first book, Ready to Lead? was published in 2007 and a second book focusing on achieving excellence in SMEs in tourism will be published later this year. He currently lives in Geneva, Switzerland.