KSA: The Ascott Limited is developing its Saudi Graduate Programme across the group’s Jeddah cluster of properties.
Under the programme, high-achieving Saudi nationals are trained in the array of skills needed to succeed in top managerial positions within the kingdom’s burgeoning hospitality sector.
To be eligible to join Ascott’s Saudi Graduate Programme, Saudi graduates must have at least a Bachelor’s degree with honours and be willing to learn and develop their career within an international group. The programme comprises theory and practical training across all departments and is followed by overseas training in one of Ascott’s properties.
“We’re in the midst of an exciting period of growth in Saudi Arabia,” said Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s regional GM for Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India. “The Kingdom’s tourism industry is growing at an exponential rate and is creating many new jobs within the hospitality sector. We launched Ascott’s Saudi Graduate Programme in line with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to promote, nurture and develop this valuable homegrown pool of young talent and offer successful individuals a dynamic career path within the Ascott group. In just a short amount time the programme has made a significant impact. Our turnover ratio of Saudi colleagues has fallen from 58 per cent in 2016 to less than 15 per cent to date in 2019; staff loyalty has been positively affected and guest satisfaction levels have increased. What’s more, Ascott Sari Jeddah was recently named as Saudi Arabia’s Leading Serviced Apartments 2019 for the second consecutive year in the annual World Travel Awards.”
“We are also proud to announce that one of our current trainees who will shortly take on the running of a property, is female. A key element of Saudi Vision 2030 is job diversification and women’s access to the employment market, and at Ascott we are committed to playing an active role in making this a reality,” added Miccolis.
While the Saudi Graduate Programme is currently available only within Ascott’s Jeddah cluster of properties, the company has plans to roll out the scheme to all of the group’s residences in the Kingdom, including Riyadh, Al Khobar and Abha.</p
