Potential employment prospects for Australians in casinos are emerging in South Africa, throughout Asia and on cruise ships. Within Australia, all the casinos conduct regular recruitment drives, which are usually advertised in newspapers. Growth in gambling has also improved employment opportunities in NSWs pubs, clubs and hotels during the past few years. Growth has been strongest in Sydneys CBD and in the far north and far south of the State. In some hotels, Charles says, jobs have increased 100 per cent.
Hotels are good training ground for hospitality staff.
They also offer a solid career path, right up to general manager. Money at the top varies widely, depending on the size and standard of a property. For people looking to move into hospitality and tourism from other service-based industries, such as retailing, some good opportunities are emerging in the area known as hotel guest relations. Like airlines, most hotel chains are developing reward schemes for frequent clients. Their needs and those of VIP and corporate guests are increasingly being attended to by guest relations staff.