Launching the third annual TMS Asia-Pacific third Asia Travel and Hospitality Industry Salary Report this week, CEO Andrew Chan said the 2010 survey will have even more significance than its 2008 and 2009 predecessors following what he described as a three-year economic roller coaster ride for the sector.
 
“While the 2008 survey was seen as having created an industry benchmark in a time of relative plenty, the 2009 report was conducted against a backdrop of huge economic conflict,” he said. “The economic tide has turned again and we now find ourselves in a bullish environment where jobs that had become relatively scarce across the latter stages of 2008 and 2009 have once again become more plentiful. Our issue now, as was the case in early 2008, is that once again we find ourselves with a deficiency of readily available candidates to fill these burgeoning new roles. This obviously has immense bearing on remuneration packages with employers once again finding themselves immersed in a ‘war for talent’ and as a result, being forced to outbid each other in order to secure the best available talent in an ever-tightening corridor.”

Mr Chan said the executive search specialist would this year be inviting input from more than 8,000 travel industry personnel.

The primary purpose of the report, he said, as in previous surveys, is to independently assess the total remuneration packages of staff and management at all levels throughout the Asia region.

“There is no hiding the fact that while ever-strengthening light has appeared  at the end of the tunnel, the regional economy is still very much in recovery mode with the travel and hospitality industry continuing to feel the effects of the global recession,” he said. “We are confident the end result and benefits of this survey, as in 2009, will prove equally as valuable.”

As an incentive for those taking part in this year’s survey, the recruitment specialist is offering participants the opportunity to win a 32GB Apple i-touch. Survey results - and the winner of the Apple i-touch - are expected to be announced at the end of October.