STAFF SHORTAGE
( CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30)
“ Invite the local college to bring their students in for tours,” says Zotos.“ This is a very effective way to promote a steady stream of future staff. Even though our college is located in Melbourne, we have recently established an internship program with Spa Hayman on Hayman Island, a luxury resort located in North Queensland 3.5 hours from Melbourne by air.”
Also, he adds, even if local colleges don’ t have the highest standard of training, spas can collaborate with the schools to upgrade courses and enhance the quality of training so they can graduate suitable future employees.
Stay in touch with instructors and recent graduates and let them know about your current and future needs.“ Local beauty schools have an alumni database full of potential employees,” says Joanne Berry, director of spa education for Bellus Academy located in Poway, California.“ You can bring their top performers into your spa on externships. This way they can learn your culture and values and when they graduate, you can immediately hire‘ experienced’ employees who meet your needs.”
Curriculum varies from college to college. At Conrad N. Hilton College, for example, an introduction to spa management course is offered every semester; other courses such as spa branding and development, wellness trends in hospitality, spa concept and design, and spa administration and forecasting are offered on a rotational basis.
HIRING TIP:
Although it’ s common in the industry, Su Gibson, spa management lecturer at the Conrad N. Hilton College, recommends against raiding other spas for top staff.“ It is quite possible that workers who are willing to be poached by you will not be loyal to your spa either when other spas come calling,” she warns.
Did you find it to be difficult to find qualified therapists to hire in 2011?
YES
NO
Difficult to Find Qualified Therapists by Spa Type
“ Within our spa management emphasis, students take a variety of hospitality foundation courses and can choose additional topics that are related to the section of the spa industry they’ d like to pursue, such as club management, gaming and casinos, or lodging management,” says Gibson.“ There is also the opportunity to work with faculty one-on-one and receive credit for independent study if a student has a specific research and study goal in mind.”
Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy College provides a“ Diploma of Resort Management Spa” that combines therapy skills with management training in areas as diverse as human resource, marketing, food and beverage service, front office, housekeeping, and night audit operations.“ Our first graduate was appointed spa director of the Conrad in Bali,” notes Zotos.
39 %
Difficult to Find Qualified Therapists
All Spas
47 % 53 %
49 %
Day Resort / Hotel
52 %
YES NO
61 %
DECEMBER 2011 ISPA SNAPSHOT SURVEY
32 PULSE ■ May 2012