Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s fast-growing hotel industry is facing a pressing challenge in finding enough trained Sabahans to fill the jobs being created, said Sabah Hospitality Fiesta (SHF) 2026 Chairman Suresh Ramasamy.
He said the State’s hospitality industry had expanded faster than its talent pipeline, creating a widening gap that needed to be addressed urgently.
“Sabah’s hotel industry has grown faster than our talent pipeline has kept pace with it,” he said during a press conference at Howard Johnson by Wyndham KKCC Hotel here.
Suresh said the expansion of hotels across Kota Kinabalu and other parts of Sabah, coupled with the entry of international hotel chains, had created growing demand for trained workers.
“There are not yet enough trained Sabahans ready to fill the front office desks, the kitchens, the guest service roles, and eventually the management positions that this growth demands,” he said.
He said SHF was being positioned as part of the solution by moving beyond skills competitions to create direct pathways from training to employment and further education.
“The real measure of SHF’s success is what happens to the competitors after the medals are handed out,” he said.
This included tracking how many competitors went on to secure hotel jobs, culinary apprenticeships or further training after their abilities were identified by judges and industry employers.
The 26th SHF and Sabah Hospitality Expo (SOHEX) will be held at the Sabah International Convention Centre from Nov 20 to 22.
Last year’s SHF attracted 437 competitors across 25 skill categories and nearly 4,000 visitors over three days, while organisers are targeting more than 500 competitors this year.
An Education Expo will also be introduced to bring hospitality and tourism study and career pathways directly to students and parents, including diploma programmes, degree progression and industry placement opportunities.
Suresh said too many capable students still viewed hospitality as a fallback option rather than a professional career.
Meanwhile, SOHEX is expected to attract up to 10,000 visitors and will feature an Education Fair and Bridal Fair alongside its trade and networking activities.
“Through SHF x SOHEX, we are building a pipeline of trained, competition-tested Sabahan talent to fill them, so that this growth benefits the people of this State first,” he said.
