Investing in Local Talent and Capabilities is Critical to Driving Growth in Saudi’s Expanding Travel and Tourism Industry
Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism industry is set to grow exponentially in the next 5 – 8 years, particularly in leisure tourism with the Kingdom investing SAR 10 billion in entertainment ventures and SAR 171 billion in tourism development over the course of 2 years, creating thousands of jobs in the hospitality sector. With all this growth and investment comes the need to develop a highly motivated and skilled workforce ready to drive this growth forward, with private and governmental entities cooperating to help them along the way.
The need to drive and implement innovative programs aimed at truly enhancing the personal and professional lives of employees is integral to the success of any company operating in the hospitality sector, even more so in a market experiencing such profound changes. Companies in Saudi Arabia recognize now more than ever the need to implement HR practices that broaden employees’ intellectual horizons as well as provide them with the time and support necessary to lead a fulfilling career in such a dynamic industry
In line with the country’s ambition to drive cooperation between the public and private sector, Hilton has several projects designed to boost Saudisation. Including ‘Manager of the future’ a fast track programme, ‘Your job your Scholarship’ in partnership with the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) where employers support Saudis studying hospitality across the globe, and many more wellness programs aimed at supporting local talent in the organization.
Recognizing the importance of Saudi Arabia in the GCC as a future travel and tourism destination and on Hilton’s recent Great Place to Work ranking, Kamel Ajami, Vice President of Operations, Saudi Arabia & Levant, Hilton said: “Supporting our employee’s in every way has always been at the heart of what we do as a company, and we strive to motivate them both personally and intellectually. As a result, Hilton has managed to rank second place among the world’s best workplaces in 2018, and we mirrored that success in Saudi Arabia, ranking first for the second year in a row.”
He continued: “We are delighted to be recognized for our efforts and are very excited to pave the way for other organizations in the Kingdom. With Saudi Arabia geared to becoming one of the GCC’s biggest cultural travel destinations, the Hospitality sector is poised to grow by 13.5 percent per annuum leading up to 2022, and we want to be at the forefront of this growth. To do that, we will continue to provide our Team Members with all of the tools they need to thrive with us in all of our properties.”
Fawaz Moumina, Director of Human Resources, KSA & Levant, Hilton commented saying, “Investing in our talent and unlocking their hidden potential is the key to our success as an organization. We offer our Team Members access to industry-leading learning and development opportunities including access to the Hilton University, our extensive online learning platform. Furthermore, we offer our all our employees the ability to take advantage of our worldwide network of properties. All of which aim to help promote a healthy, opportunity rich working environment which we are proud to see reflected in our Great Place to Work ranking.”
