Rotana Hotels introduces a new Online survey for its internal customer; the employees

Abu Dhabi, January 2008 – Rotana Hotels Human Resources department announced launching its online Rotana Employee Satisfaction Survey (RESS), which is a major step forward, in line with the company’s commitment to improve employee satisfaction, engagement and retention.

“I can proudly say that our new approach to the employee survey is quite unique. We will probably be the first hotel chain in the region to conduct a survey based on the same principal as a guest survey, adding to it the options that help us assess any concerns the employees might have. This again emphasizes on our commitment to our employees, our internal customers” said Imad Elias, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating for Rotana.

This important step will allow Rotana Hotels to build a culture of continuous improvement, ensure speed of action planning, adopt best practices and enhance employee morale. Furthermore, it is a shift from the traditional paper-based survey to the online system. The new RESS will be run twice per year unlike most surveys that take place just once a year.

Commenting on this matter, Joseph Abou Yaghi, Corporate Vice President Human Resources for Rotana said “During the past quarter, we have successfully implemented a pilot survey across 4 areas in the following properties: Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers Abu Dhabi, Al Bustan Rotana Hotel Dubai, Grand Rotana Resort & Spa Sharm El Sheikh and Gefinor Rotana Hotel Beirut and we have received tremendous response rates, which is indeed rewarding.”.

Rotana’s Human Resources Department has put a complete proactive plan together, which includes and not limited to, employee development, retention, surveys, competency program, centralisation of recruitment through rotanacareers.com and the search for new markets to source staff. “We are expanding at a phenomenal rate and, because of this, our resources are well focused on our own employees and their retention. We currently have 6400 employees and by 2012 the company will be increasing it’s manning by 150%, which makes the approximate total number of employees 17500”, concluded Abou Yaghi.

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About Rotana Hotels

Rotana Hotels currently manages 24 properties throughout the Middle East with an aggressive expansion plans to double the size of the portfolio with a further 36 projects in the pipeline.
Internationally, Rotana Hotels has alliances with a range of renowned groups such as Thistle Hotels in the UK, Affinia Hospitality in New York and First Hotels in Scandinavia. Rotana is managed by a highly professional hands-on team which combines vast experience of the hospitality industry with an unrivalled knowledge of local culture and way of life. Further information on any Rotana Hotel, reservations or our alliance partners can be obtained by visiting rotana.com or by contacting one of our regional sales offices across the globe.

For further information about this press release or any of the Rotana properties, please contact:

Amal Harb
Associate Vice President - Marketing & Communications
Rotana Hotel Management Corporation LTD.
P.O. Box 43500
Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Tel: 00 971 2 699 44 44
Fax: 00 971 2 644 14 12
E-mail: amal.harb@rotana.com