The Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia has signed a strategic partnership with Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, dedicated to nurturing and developing Saudi talent within the hospitality industry.
Through the “Tamayyaz by Accor” program, the collaboration seeks to offer fresh graduates and talented individuals a clear path for career advancement, expedite nationalization by identifying essential roles in each department, cultivate internal talent, implement onboarding programs, and design career growth plans. Upon completing the six-month program, 256 trainees will be employed in their preferred departments within the hotels.
To mark this partnership, the Ministry was represented during the signing ceremony by Deputy Minister of Tourism for Human Capital Development Mohammed Muin Bushnag, while Accor was represented by Jean-Jacques Morin, group deputy chief executive officer, premium, midscale and economy division, in the presence of several officials.
Bushnag said: “This partnership with Accor marks a significant milestone in our efforts to grow 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.”
“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 like 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 programs, and training initiatives funded by the Ministry of Tourism. Additionally, a Supervisory Development track will offer candidates a range of training programs designed to enhance potential future growth and prepare them for the next level.
Morin said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to empower local Saudi talent in the hospitality industry. ‘Tamayyaz by Accor’ demonstrates our commitment to fast-tracking the nationalization of the hospitality sector, providing young Saudi nationals with an outstanding opportunity to develop the skills and expertise required to flourish in this dynamic industry.”
Moustafa Manoon, vice president operations, Saudi Arabia, premium, midscale and economy division at Accor, said: “Accor’s pivotal strategic priorities in the Kingdom 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 Vision 2030 through developing and growing national talents. ‘Tamyyaz by Accor’ initiative, a cornerstone of our nationalization strategy, epitomizes effective collaboration between the government, represented by the Ministry of Tourism, and the private sector, represented by Accor Group, harmonizing premier learning and development avenues as well as fostering our talent acquisition, talent development and talent retention objectives. “
