firm looks to europe to fill staffing gap

By Linda Fox

Staff shortages in British hotels have become so severe that one company is launching a recruitment drive in Europe for chambermaids.

European Recruitment Services will interview staff in their own countries and pay their passage to the UK for a two-week training programme including intensive language tuition.

The company, set up by contract cleaners the WGC Group, will provide staff not only for specialised roles but also for a complete room-cleaning service.

London seems to be particularly hard hit by the housekeeping staff shortage. Ilse Mohr, chair of the London and South-east region of the Housekeepers Association, said: "Everybody in London has had problems, even for holiday coverage.

"I don't approve wholeheartedly of contract cleaning but it's the way things are going. There's merit in having your own staff for commitment, loyalty and consistency. But you can get agency staff and have the same person all the time. It has advantages because you have no related costs."

Liana Sparks, former director of housekeeping at London's Landmark Hotel, is running the new company.