Up the ranks: Colin Rozario, director of HR, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur

With the recent opening of the first Banyan Tree resort to debut in Malaysia, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur was excited to announce its key appointment of Colin Rozario, director of human resources, who will oversee the hotel’s full spectrum of human resources including talent acquisition, employee engagement, and workforce and succession planning.  

With a growing team of team of four in the HR department currently, this hospitality expert speaks to Human Resources on the adventure that awaits in his role. 

Congratulation on the appointment! What would your immediate priority be in this role?

My immediate priority with Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur would be to ensure Banyan Tree’s unique culture is actualised within the context of Malaysia. We are also focused on identifying and bringing on board the right talent who meet our expectations, and who have the personal traits that are in sync with the Banyan Tree culture.

Talk about culture, how would you describe the culture at Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur?

Banyan Tree has a culture that is driven to provide exceptional service to guests. We also take pride in developing local talent to embrace diversity and inclusion (in the Malaysian context), and to uphold the idea of travel with a conscience of our environment and the local community.

What would you say is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of our jobs is identifying and bringing on board the right talent that matches not only the nature of work, but also fit into the Banyan Tree culture.

On the other hand, what would you say is the biggest pride of your job?

My biggest pride is feeling and seeing the existing team embracing diversity and inclusion in their work ethics, and growing as a cohesive team that embodies the Banyan Tree Spirit and culture.

How do you see the job market growth for talent in the hospitality industry in Malaysia?

The hospitality industry in Malaysia is a growing industry where success hinges on a stable and viable economy. With this, we have seen the number of top International Hotel Brands coming into Malaysia just like Banyan Tree.

While Malaysia does have a sizable talent pool, in terms of quality, talent and capabilities, this talent pool is quite shallow. I do believe that it has become an “employees’ market”, where because of the job options available, local talent do scout for opportunities. That being said, the onus is on Hotels to develop employer branding, just like what Banyan Tree does, to develop and grow talent.   

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