There is a tremendous demand for well-trained Filipino front-liners in the tourism industry abroad. This is the positive trend noted by the Hospitality Staff Philippines, Inc. (HSPI), a well-respected and reputable employment agency that specializes in this endeavor.

In the Middle East alone, hundreds of hotels and resorts are being built. These will require thousands of hotel staff. In North America, Australia, New Zealand, England and Ireland, there are many opportunities for Filipinos especially in the housekeeping and cooking fields, said Vic Alcuaz, president and CEO of HSPI. This demand puts Filipino workers in the limelight since Filipinos are known for their natural gift for making guests comfortable. “Filipinos remain to be at an advantage because of our friendliness, industriousness, aggressiveness, intelligence and hard-working nature. These traits coupled with flexibility in doing almost any kind of job, makes the Filipino a very effective employee, said Alcuaz.

In fact, statistics reveal that Filipino hotel executives in the fields of finance, marketing and room management have been excelling all over the world. In relation to this, Filipino bartenders, baristas and butlers are a favorite not only in hotels but in cruise liners as well. Meanwhile, Filipino chefs and cooks are found in kitchens of one-star to seven-star properties.

To supply workers for this huge demand, the country’s hotel and restaurant industry have provided training by employing thousands into their establishments at different levels. “Add to that, colleges and universities offer various hotel courses with practicum component at the end of each course, enabling students to get hands-on training before they graduate. But the practicum training they get is not enough,” said Alcuaz.

“It is fortunate that there a number of institutions and centers that offer hands-on skills training to entry level job seekers which will better prepare them for jobs in the tourism industry. One such training institution is CHAMP or the Center for Hospitality Arts Management Philippines, which caters to the mass-based population for specific skills like waitering, bartending, barista training and housekeeping,” said Alcuaz. 

HSPI recommends students or those who are now hospitality industry workers to equip themselves with a more comprehensive skills-based education. “The school they go to should provide them with sufficient practical training in order for them to have an edge over other applicants,” he added.  

CHAMP is an excellent example of a learning institution dedicated to transforming fresh graduates and industry practitioners in becoming competitive tourism front-liners that are more adept and prepared to handle even the most demanding of tourism jobs abroad.

According to Alcuaz, the competency-based curriculum of CHAMP—with 70 percent of learning devoted to hands-on training—is an advantage. Because of this, CHAMP students have the potential to land in paid apprenticeship programs in Singapore and Australia, while rank and file workers who upgrade their skills at CHAMP can find job positions in almost any hotel in the world.

 “They are not only learning but earning as well,” Alcuaz said. “In the long run, hotel and resorts overseas will notice their advanced skills and will hire them eventually.” Thus, HSPI has pledged to give deserving CHAMP graduates the first opportunity for interviews with prospective employers and help them in job placements.

CHAMP holds classes at its training hotel, the CHAMP International Hostel in Kamias Road, Quezon City. It is the only hospitality school that allows its students to earn and be fully intergrated into its training hotel’s operations. CHAMPS’ tuition fees have been made very cost-effective and lower than existing rates of high-end schools to give a larger number of people equal access to good, quality education which will help them land a promising career in the tourism industry.