Accor, the largest international hotel group in Fiji, has appointed its first Fiji-born Hotel Manager. Jack Work will become Hotel Manager of Accor’s initial hotel in Fiji, Mercure Nadi.

Mr Work, who hails from the Kulukulu Village of Nadroga, Sigatoka, has enjoyed a successful career with Accor since 2005, when he first joined the group as a Duty Manager in the opening team for the Sofitel Resort and Spa on Denarau Island.

He was later promoted to the position of Assistant Front Office Manager and then Front Office Manager at the Sofitel. Following his extensive training and experience with Accor’s flagship Sofitel resort, Mr Work was promoted to Executive Assistant Manager at Accor’s Novotel Nadi in 2010.

Accor’s Regional General Manager for Fiji Lee Pearce said, “Jack is a great example of our policy of ‘growing our own’, developing our local staff to management positions. Jack is renowned for his professionalism and ability to relate to guests, staff and our local partners. He has been a real asset to the company and will be an excellent role model for other Fijians to excel in the tourism and hospitality industries.

“This is the beginning of what we hope is a long and successful journey for Jack as a hotel General Manager at Accor, with future opportunities that potentially extend across the broader network in Asia Pacific.

“Accor is highly supportive of providing opportunities in local communities wherever it operates. This is reflected in our employment, training and recruitment strategies, which are designed to increase sustainable outcomes for local employees, as well as strengthening connections with local communities.”

Accor’s Mercure Hotel Nadi was first hailed as the industry’s ‘employer of choice in Fiji’ in 2005, when it become the first international hotel in Fiji to align with accepted worldwide standards and reduce working hours for a better work/life balance for its Fijian workers. This was the first of a number of initiatives by Accor hotels to ensure best practices for local staff.

The Accor hotel group operates four hotels in Fiji – Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Novotel Nadi, Mercure Nadi and Novotel Suva – and employs nearly 1000 people. The company also created the “Cure Kids Fiji” fund to assist with local community development which to date has raised in excess of F$900,000 for the children of Fiji and their families.

Accor remains committed to the environment and environmental sustainability, evident through the group’s commitment to Green Globe with the certification of all Accor hotels in Fiji.