A career in the hospitality industry can offer graduates the chance to progress up the corporate ladder so that even those who start on the ground floor can wind up in the corner office. Stephane Delamotte has 25 years in the hospitality industry. He started out in the sector as a head waiter before moving on to work in food and beverage operations at hotels in the United Kingdom. Mr Delamotte eventually moved on to work in Lebanon, Mauritius, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. He was recently appointed general manager of the 18-hectare St Regis Bora Bora Resort, where he is responsible for the running of hospitality services, 100 villas, 3 restaurants and 2 bars. As GM, Mr Delamotte also has a staff of 250 people working under him. His rise to the top is not that unusual. According to industry veteran Don Shindle, hospitality offers widespread opportunities for career development and advancement because it is one of America's largest and fastest-growing sectors. According to figures from the Department of Labor, around 1.8 million people were employed in the US hotel industry in 2006. By 2016, this number is expected to increase by 14%.  |