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Mar 30, 2010
'Get back service culture'
<!-- by line -->By Cai Haoxiang
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Singaporeans have achieved much academically, but a side effect of that is that they now think service sector jobs are beneath them, says the manager of a top international luxury hotel. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
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SINGAPOREANS have achieved much academically, but a side effect of that is that they now think service sector jobs are beneath them, says the manager of a top international luxury hotel.
Mr Amadeo Zarzosa, general manager of the St Regis Hotel, said yesterday that with tourism being a key economic contributor, it was important to 'get back into a culture of service'.
'It's very important to continue to differentiate yourselves from other Asian countries and other parts of the world,' he said at a panel discussion, where he also cautioned against letting service standards drop, as has happened in parts of Europe and in North and South America.
'You have a beautiful country, beautiful hotels and it's key to really focus and educate our younger people to get back into the service industry and show them that there is a career there.'
Mr Zarzosa, 52, comes from Spain. He recalled his first visit to Singapore in 1978, saying it was fascinating for a Westerner to see the type of service, hotels and 'the service excellence, the care, the warmth you received when you went into a hotel'.
'Over the years it has been somewhat maintained,' he said. But he warned against letting services deteriorate.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
'Get back service culture'
<!-- by line -->By Cai Haoxiang
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
SINGAPOREANS have achieved much academically, but a side effect of that is that they now think service sector jobs are beneath them, says the manager of a top international luxury hotel.
Mr Amadeo Zarzosa, general manager of the St Regis Hotel, said yesterday that with tourism being a key economic contributor, it was important to 'get back into a culture of service'.
'It's very important to continue to differentiate yourselves from other Asian countries and other parts of the world,' he said at a panel discussion, where he also cautioned against letting service standards drop, as has happened in parts of Europe and in North and South America.
'You have a beautiful country, beautiful hotels and it's key to really focus and educate our younger people to get back into the service industry and show them that there is a career there.'
Mr Zarzosa, 52, comes from Spain. He recalled his first visit to Singapore in 1978, saying it was fascinating for a Westerner to see the type of service, hotels and 'the service excellence, the care, the warmth you received when you went into a hotel'.
'Over the years it has been somewhat maintained,' he said. But he warned against letting services deteriorate.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.