Watch: db Director Questions ‘Where Has the Maltese Smile Gone At Restaurants?’
Db Group director Arthur Gauci urged the catering industry to attract more Maltese workers, warning that the shortage of locals is proving detrimental.
Gauci said he recently visited Switzerland and was pleasantly surprised at how many locals worked at the restaurants he dined at.
“Nowadays, wherever you go, most of the staff are third-country nationals,” he said during a debate at an ACE conference moderated by Lovin Malta’s Tim Diacono.
Moving on to the Maltese context, Gauci said the focus should be on bringing the “Maltese blend” back into service.
“I eat at restaurants like all of you do, and one thing I find lacking is that Maltese hospitality, that Maltese smile. When I was a kid, we would go to a restaurant and you would find someone with a smile working there. Unfortunately, I find that very lacking.”
“I’m not pointing fingers but it’s a fact, at least from what I have experienced. This is not something to do with regulation because it’s really up to the industry to try and stimulate and have its own self-training, and not just rely on ITS and what have you.”
Gauci encouraged the catering industry to set up its own in-house academies to train local staff.
“In my opinion, the industry itself needs to have its own in-house academies to bring this aspect back, because this is what really and truly will bring people back. It’s part of the authentic experience; we used to be so renowned for that smile but how many times do you find it today?”
The industry must have its own in-house academies to bring this aspect back cos its part of the authentic experience. We used to be so renowned for that smile, but how many times do you find it today?
Do you agree with Arthur Gauci?