1,412 new job opportunities for Saudi Nationals in the next 5 years
Dubai, UAE: Accor Middle East, one of the leading hospitality groups in the region, has been working to implement plans for the group's human resources requirements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Accor worked closely and actively with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) - Dr Al-Weshail and his team - towards a nationalisation plan for Accor hotels in the Kingdom.
A comprehensive Saudisation plan was formulated and presented in March this year to SCTA for approval. The 2015 Accor Saudisation plan details that within the next 5 years, Accor hotels in KSA will recruit an excess of 1,412 Saudis, making up a total of 1,757 Saudi Nationals.
Christophe Landais, Managing Director Accor Middle East, said: "We fully support the Saudisation programme in its endeavour to solve the growing unemployment in the country and we strongly believe that sustainable hotel development will succeed only through the development of Saudi Nationals.''
The 2015 Accor Saudisation plan has been built up by location, by department and by position within each department. The plan is based on recruiting college and university graduates under the Accor 'Become a Future Manager' program and there is also a non-academic, apprenticeship route via the 'Become a Talented Associates' program.
The objective is for Saudi Nationals to gradually reach 80% of the total workforce in the Accor hotels. Furthermore, Accor is committed to employ 100% Saudi Nationals within each hotel Front Office department within the next two years.
''Most evidently those are challenging targets. Clearly some immense efforts and drive will be required from Accor at corporate level as well as at our hotel General Manager and Head of Department' levels with two prominent focuses: determination and training,'' stressed Landais
Novotel Al Anoud Riyadh was selected as the pilot hotel for implementation of Accor's Saudisation programme with the strong support of its General Manager, Frederic Gitzner. The pilot programme aims to assess the feasibility of the scheme, before extending the curriculum to the other hotels within the group.
Accor will place a strong focus on developing the technical expertise and abilities of Saudi Nationals, providing extensive ''on'' and ''off'' the job training through the Accor Middle East Academy 'Tamheed'.
The group will work closely with the SCTA in sourcing the candidates and the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) to allocate the necessary financial resources and assistance to progress Saudisation in a timely manner. 'Most evidently Accor Saudi nationals' development programs will also succeed according to the financial resources the Saudi government and hotel Onwers alike are prepared to commit,' added Landais.
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Accor ME
Accor ME is one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the Middle East. Currently, the company's regional portfolio includes a total of 55 operational hotels in ten countries. Among the existing global brands ranging from Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and ibis, new brands such as Pullman and Adagio are emerging as strong players in the region.
With over 25 years of regional experience, Accor ME is the first to establish a training academy. Dubbed as Tamheed - Accor Academie Middle East, the training facility is dedicated to educate and prepare staff at all levels and ensure optimal career development.
Accor
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 90 countries with 4,200 hotels and more than 500,000 rooms. Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, hotelF1 and Motel 6, and its related activities, Thalassa sea & spa and Lenôtre - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With 145,000 employees worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.
Press Contacts :
Andrea Krenn
Action UAE
Andrea.k@actionprgroup.com
Tel. +971 4 3902974
Ferial Kurimbux
Accor ME
ferial.KURIMBUX@accor.com
Tel. +971 4 377 2501
© Press Release 2011
