Sunday, Jun 27, 2010

Gulf News

organisers hope to break myth about hotel work

Abu Dhabi Approximately 100 Emiratis will be chosen to participate in the Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) Al Mumaiz summer training programme, it was revealed at the organisation’s Open Day event at the Meridien Hotel on June 24.

“This is the first time that we’ve organised such an event. ADNH has been operating for over 30 years and we want to help push the hospitality industry forward as part of the government’s 2030 plan,” Michael Newnham, ADNH Group Director of Human Resources, said.

“While the tourism industry is expanding in the UAE, at the moment one of the biggest challenges in encouraging Emiratis to join is a mixture of social awareness and family support in addition to several misconceptions about the ?industry,” he added. Applicants will get to work in one of the more than 14 hotels participating in the programme, which will run from July 4 to 29.

Applications

“We have already received 20 applications in [the first] two hours [of the open day]…Most of the applications that we received have been from entry level individuals in their twenties and thirties…though they had never considered hospitality as a career choice before,” Muneswaran Ramaswamy, Cluster Training Manager, Hilton Abu Dhabi, said.

Department trainers will be assigned to each participant to not only oversee their progress but also give them an opportunity to carry out various tasks. At the end of the programme, the trainees will be given certificates.

“I love the fact that you get to meet people... so many different nationalities as part of your job. I would love to work in marketing, and I find career opportunities in the hotel industry to be very exciting. There is always something new every day,” Wafa’a Al Kathiri, 30, a Mass Communication graduate from UAE University, said.

According to Hazeem Al Ja’abari, the Deputy Director of the Hotels Division in ADNH, it is because of initiatives undertaken by the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) that is helping reduce the stigma among Emiratis about working in hospitality.

“I fell in love with the industry while staying in many hotels growing up as a result of my father’s government job…also, I had several uncles who worked in senior positions in the hospitality industry around the world.”

Al Ja’abari said when he talked of going into the industry, it was considered a taboo.

“But now, more young Emiratis are expressing an interest in the industry, especially females who want to work in... Event Management,” he said, but now he sees young Emiratis showing interest.

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Moving forward

Le Meridien Hotel in Abu Dhabi’s Tourist Club area. The hotel is hosting the first summer training programme for 100 Emiratis selected to attend.

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Quote Attribution

Quote Title

I would love to work in marketing, and I find career opportunities in the hotel industry to be very exciting. There is always something new every day.”

Wafa’a Al Kathiri

Mass Communication graduate

By Nathalie Farah?and Samihah Zaman?Staff Reporters

Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.