Accor, MoT tie-up to employ locals in hotels

Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tied-up with Accor to nurture and develop Saudi talent in the hospitality industry. Through the ‘Tamayyaz by Accor’ programme, the collaboration seeks to offer graduates and individuals a clear path for career advancement, expedite nationalization, cultivate internal talent, implement onboarding programmes, and design career growth plans.

TT Bureau

Upon completing the six-month programme, 256 trainees will be employed in their preferred departments within hotels in the KSA. “This partnership with Accor marks a milestone in our efforts to grow Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector and create job opportunities for our citizens. With ‘Tamayyaz by Accor’, we are confident that Saudi talent will be well-equipped to succeed in the ever-evolving world of hospitality,” Engineer Mohammed Muin Bushnag, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Human Capital Development, said.

‘Tamayyaz by Accor’ encompasses three distinct tracks: Hospitality Specialist, Hospitality Operations, and Hospitality Leadership. The Hospitality Specialist track exposes local talent to the foundations of non-operating hotel departments such as Talent and Culture, Marketing, Finance, Business Development, and Guest Experiences. Meanwhile, the Hospitality Operations track targets departments such as Food and Beverage, Front Office, Housekeeping, Culinary, and Engineering. The Hospitality Leadership track concentrates on fostering leadership skills by applying the Accor Leadership Framework. This track includes leadership shadowing, global leadership programmes, and training initiatives funded by the Tourism Ministry.

Additionally, a supervisory development track will offer candidates a range of training programmes designed to enhance potential future growth and prepare them for the next level. “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to empower local Saudi talent in the hospitality industry. ‘Tamayyaz by Accor’ shows our commitment to fast-tracking the nationalization of the hospitality sector, providing young Saudi nationals with an opportunity to develop the skills and expertise required to flourish in this dynamic industry,” Jean-Jacques Morin, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Premium, Midscale and Economy Division Chief Executive Officer at Accor commented.

The Ministry was represented during the signing ceremony by the Deputy Minister of Tourism for Human Capital Development, Engineer Mohammed Muin Bushnag, while Accor was represented by Jean-Jacques Morin the Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Premium, Midscale and Economy division, in the presence of several officials.

“Accor’s pivotal strategic priorities in KSA encompass the nationalization of the hospitality industry and nurturing local talents. As the leading hotel operator with an extensive pipeline in the Kingdom, we hold a significant role in advancing the 2030 Vision through developing and growing national talents. ‘Tamyyaz by Accor’ initiative, a cornerstone of our nationalization strategy, epitomizes effective collaboration between the government, represented by Ministry of Tourism and Private Sector and Accor Group, harmonizing premier learning and development avenues as well as fostering our talent acquisition, talent development and talent retention objectives,” Moustafa Manoon, VP, Operations, KSA, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Accor, said.

The Accor and the Ministry of Tourism tie-up signifies a stride in advancing the hotel industry and generating opportunities for local talent in the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The programme will equip trainees with skills and know-how to excel in the hospitality industry.