Amara Hotel - Our Key to Success Is Human Resources

Amara Hotel - Our Key to Success Is Human Resources

VIB Forum had an interview with Mr. R. MARAN – Director General of AMARA Hotel, a highly appreciated hotel for its business success in 2004.

Could you please tell us about AMARA’s accomplishments in 2004?

AMARA is a joint-venture hotel of AOI Saigon (Singapore) in partnership with Company No.489 (Ministry of Defense), established in 1996 and came into operation in 1997. In 2004, AMARA recorded a fairly high growth rate in the hotel industry. Although being a four-star hotel, we have offered services of five-star quality as well as competitive charges, thereby attracting a large number of tourists and foreign businessmen in Ho Chi Minh City. The avian flu in early 2004 posed many difficulties but we successfully surmounted them thanks to our excellent service quality and our clients’ support. Our main clients come from South Korea, Japan and ASEAN countries.

So what is the key to AMARA’s success?

Our key to success is human resources. As traditionally perceived by Asians, any success is attributed to the three elements of "clement weather, favourable terrain and excellent human resource." For our part, we regard "excellent human resource" as the prerequisite for AMARA's success. We always create the most favourable conditions so that our employees work to their utmost efficiency. There is nothing like a ranking discrimination in AMARA. All people who contribute to the hotel’s value are deservedly rewarded and appreciated. We attentively care for the life of our staff. The hotel provides benefits for the staff in case of critical events and has established an assistance fund for needy employees. Besides, we encourage our staff to take out insurance and deposit their savings into banks with a certain percentage supported by the hotel. Also, we have always attached importance to improving the professional qualifications and life awareness among our employees.

The families of our employees also receive our attention and support. Every year, AMARA sponsors 100 per cent of the expenditures to organise a family festival during which AMARA's staff and their families can visit some beauty spots, participate in joint activities with their family members and colleagues, thereby strengthening the bond and unity within the larger family of AMARA.

Notably, AMARA cares for people of merit as well as the disadvantaged persons due to war consequences, including poor families, poor but studious pupils and students, and even the needy people around the hotel site. On such occasions as public holidays and Lunar New Year festival, AMARA always presents gifts and wishes to the households located around the hotel. Besides, AMARA has participated in other social activities like aiding flood-stricken families and Agent Orange victims and building house for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers.

What do you think about the Vietnamese government’s policy pertaining to the creation of a level ground for all enterprises?

I firmly believe in the guidelines and policies of the Vietnamese government, not because I am doing business in Vietnam. Rather, my 9-year business experience of Vietnam has proved my conviction. Despite numerous difficulties, the government of Vietnam has managed to provide sufficient food and other necessities for its people. In 2003, Vietnam was first country to stamp out the avian flu epidemic. These facts alone are sufficient to make me believe in the policies of the Vietnamese government. I have read a lot about Ho Chi Minh, your noble leader. I learn from him the leadership guidelines and the mobilisation of human resource. Since I assumed the position of Director General, my door is always open to the comments from my staff. My motto is "To win success, one has to win the heart of his staff."

What is AMARA's business strategy in 2005 in order to develop its market share in the hotel industry?

In 2005, we will continue unceasingly enhancing our facilities, and improving our staff's qualifications. In close coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Department and Vietnam Tourism Administration, we will carry out programmes aimed at promoting Vietnam tourism. Apart from foreign visitors and expatriate businessmen, we will implement plans to attract more domestic tourists through Coffee drinking, family feasts and friendly meetings. And AMARA will go ahead with the initiatives that none of the hotels in Vietnam has adopted, like the "Wedding Party Exhibition – 2004" in 2004. Of course, I cannot reveal those initiatives right now. So please wait for pleasant surprises from AMARA Hotel. All of these new ideas have been put forth by AMARA employees. May I confirm that AMARA's key to success is "the human resource" and “only the human resource makes the difference."

• Reported by M.N