MAKKAH: Women in Saudi Arabia are rising to the top in hotel management after taking part in intensive training programs in Europe.
The Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with leading international training institutions, has been funding overseas initiatives designed to meet the needs of the Kingdom’s burgeoning tourism labor market.
And many of those participating in a range of training and mentoring programs aboard have gained invaluable practical experience in the industry while learning relevant hospitality and management skills.
In central Makkah alone, more than 1,400 hotels provide accommodation for pilgrims and visitors to the holy city, employing thousands of foreign-trained Saudi men and women in jobs including reception, room and kitchen service, supervision, management, and bookings.
Sarah Niazi, a Fairmont Gold assistant manager, recently returned from an intensive training course at Les Roches international school of hotel management in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
I am pleased to be a young leader in the empowerment of Saudi women so that my country shines among the countries of the world.
Reham Zahid, guest relations supervisor at a hotel in Makkah
She said that the experience had exposed her to the high levels of service required to meet international standards in the tourism sector.
“The main goal in our field is to ensure guest satisfaction and quality services. Both the Ministry of Tourism and Fairmont Gold have supported and facilitated everything so that we could go through this experience and return equipped with skills that make us more efficient as Saudi youth to serve guests coming from all over the world,” she added.
Reham Zahid, guest relations supervisor at a hotel in Makkah, said: “I thank King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism for providing this opportunity, training young men and women to develop their tourism skills.
“They have exerted all efforts to achieve the ambition of creating 1 million jobs for all by 2030, allowing the pioneers of the tourism sector to contribute to the prosperity of the local economy by 10 percent, and qualifying them to form a vibrant society by receiving 1 million visitors to the country by 2030.
“I am proud to be one of the pioneers of tourism and participate in the largest international training. I joined the program launched by the Ministry of Tourism in August and I was among the first to receive intensive training at Les Roches in hotel management and global hospitality with the most skilled specialists, who kindly shared their experiences with us.
“I returned home more qualified, as per international standards, and I look forward to achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims for tourism, hotel management, and hospitality.
“I am pleased to be a young leader in the empowerment of Saudi women so that my country shines among the countries of the world. I look forward to contributing to this sector’s growth and providing the best services, offering comfort for tourists and a sense of reassurance inside Saudi Arabia,” she added.
