Wage wars brew in Cardiff hotels

Hoteliers in Cardiff believe that the number of new hotels being built in the city will force them to pay higher wages if they are to keep staff.

Sir Rocco Forte's St David's hotel is due to open in January and the Hilton International shortly afterwards.

There are plans for other hotels as well, and Cardiff is expected to have 4,000 new hotel beds by the turn of the century.

"It is going to be a struggle, the skills shortage will get worse and there will be a wage war," said Anthony Quilter, catering operations manager of the 155-bedroom Forte hotel.

He added: "We expect to lose a few staff when St David's opens. But we will pay staff more or offer loyalty bonuses. We don't want them to be poached."

But Nicki Page, sales and marketing director of St David's, said: "It is a free market and competition is healthy." And Martin Green, St David's executive chef, added: "We are not poaching people, they are applying to us because it is a step up the ladder."

Nick Lawrance, general manager of the 103-bedroom Angel Hotel said: "I have been doing some salary reviews and anyone who does nothing is living in cloud cuckoo land."

Caroline Antoniou, catering sector manager at recruitment firm Blue Arrow, added: "Some hotels are already offering more money and staff are moving around in circles chasing the best salaries."

By Louise Bozec