Hospitality future lies in human capital

Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia 2025, held recently at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh, offered a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the importance to modernise hospitality education to meet the growing demands of the sector.

TT Bureau

The overarching theme of Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia 2025 centred on the critical importance of investing in human capital, addressing talent shortages and enhancing the appeal of hospitality careers to young people.

The discussions repeatedly emphasised the need for collaboration between educational institutions, industry operators and government bodies to create sustainable pathways for talent development and retention. Several insights emerged about the integral role of education, leadership and culture in shaping the future of hospitality in Saudi Arabia and globally.

A recurring theme was the urgent need to modernise hospitality education to meet the growing demands of the sector. Speakers highlighted the inadequacies of traditional educational formats and proposed innovative approaches, such as technology-enabled training, shorter courses and integrating hospitality education into secondary schools. Vocational training and continuous professional development were underscored as essential components for upskilling and reskilling the workforce. The discussions also stressed the significance of sustainability in attracting and retaining talent.

This calls for educational institutions to update their curricula to reflect modern sustainability practices. Leadership and organisational culture were identified as pivotal factors in enhancing employee engagement and retention. The speakers emphasised creating work environments where employees feel a sense of belonging, respect and opportunities for growth. Transparent remuneration and development pathways were highlighted as vital in retaining talent, especially in competitive markets. The concept of inverting the organisational pyramid placing frontline employees at the top was introduced as a strategy to empower employes and improve guest experiences.