13 June 2016
As Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas moves closer to opening its first resort in the Sultanate of Oman, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, announces that it has employed over 70 local Omani nationals to make up the pre-opening team. Set to be the highest five-star resort in the Middle East, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar will offer indigenous experiences and authentic luxury, with a commitment to supporting the local community by providing career opportunities and the necessary training so they can grow and develop within the company.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar aims to employ over 95 Omani employees in the coming years, which will represent 35% of the 291-strong team. Led by Director of Human Resources, Sami Al Balushi, an Omani national, the resort works closely with government entities such as the Oman Tourism College and National Hospitality Institute to recruit newly graduated Omani citizens looking to learn the art of hospitality. Moreover, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Manpower, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar held a successful Anantara Career Fair at the Nizwa Ministry of Manpower Hall, where candidates were selected and sent to be trained at the Oman Tourism College, before joining the resort.
The resort will be employing Omanis to fulfil hospitality roles across all functions from housekeeping and concierge to sales, marketing and HR departments. With an unsurpassed knowledge of the area, employees from the surrounding region are able to provide guests with an authentic taste of local life, a key component of Anantara's brand ethos. For example, a 'Mountain Guru' has been recruited from a nearby village on the Green Mountain to take guests on private excursions to discover hidden hiking trails and experience the surrounding history, culture and landscape.
Another initiative to support the local community will be the resort's "Friday Souk" which will take place each week in the courtyard. Omanis from local villages will have the opportunity to sell their handicrafts to guests, whether it's jewellery, pottery or paintings. The resort have also been supporting a group of local women who sew traditional Omani scarves, which the resort will give to guests as a souvenir.
To support the ongoing development of Omani employees, Anantara will be offering the team the chance to attend training programmes across their resorts in Thailand, providing them with the chance to hone their skills and immerse themselves in to the brand. This began last April, when Sami Al Balushi attended an HR conference in Bangkok, where he received training on Anantara's work and employee development programmes.
Darren Darwin, General Manager of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, said: "In line with Anantara's ongoing commitment to the local community in each of its destinations, our goal is to provide long-term employment and development opportunities for the residents of Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Oman. We have recognised that it is vital to attract and retain talent from the local pool after all no-one else has a better knowledge of the local culture as well as a desire to aid the region's future growth. We have developed excellent staff accommodation and facilities to cultivate a positive working environment and are introducing comprehensive training programmes to help employees grow and develop within the company. We look forward to giving the local community to opportunity to become involved with the resort, whether it's working directly for or alongside us."
A scenic two hour drive from Muscat International Airport or four and a half hours from Dubai, passing date plantations, wadis and historical forts, the resort will offer an exhilarating escape for culture and history enthusiasts. A total of 115 rooms and villas will comprise of 82 Premier and Deluxe Rooms and 33 Pool Villas, each offering views of dramatic canyon or tranquil garden. Six restaurants and lounges will cater to every requirement, whilst impressive facilities include the cliff-edge infinity pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre, tennis court and world-acclaimed Anantara Spa. Year-round pleasant temperatures will allow guests to explore the wealth of experiences on offer, including sunrise yoga, archery, quad biking and excursions to the multitude of nearby heritage attractions.
-Ends-
About
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world's most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.
From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 30 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE and Qatar, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa.
For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com.
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels
About Global Hotel Alliance:
Founded in 2004, and based on the airline alliance model, Global Hotel Alliance ("GHA") is today the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands. GHA uses a shared technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its member brands, and operates a multi-brand loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, which has over six million members. GHA's member brands encompass over 550 upscale and luxury hotels with 110,000 rooms across 76 different countries. For more information visit www.gha.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Eleanore Longley Account Director elongley@prco.com +971 4 2784 903
Maryanne Haggas Account Manager mhaggas@prco.com +971 4 2784 909
As Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas moves closer to opening its first resort in the Sultanate of Oman, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, announces that it has employed over 70 local Omani nationals to make up the pre-opening team. Set to be the highest five-star resort in the Middle East, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar will offer indigenous experiences and authentic luxury, with a commitment to supporting the local community by providing career opportunities and the necessary training so they can grow and develop within the company.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar aims to employ over 95 Omani employees in the coming years, which will represent 35% of the 291-strong team. Led by Director of Human Resources, Sami Al Balushi, an Omani national, the resort works closely with government entities such as the Oman Tourism College and National Hospitality Institute to recruit newly graduated Omani citizens looking to learn the art of hospitality. Moreover, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Manpower, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar held a successful Anantara Career Fair at the Nizwa Ministry of Manpower Hall, where candidates were selected and sent to be trained at the Oman Tourism College, before joining the resort.
The resort will be employing Omanis to fulfil hospitality roles across all functions from housekeeping and concierge to sales, marketing and HR departments. With an unsurpassed knowledge of the area, employees from the surrounding region are able to provide guests with an authentic taste of local life, a key component of Anantara's brand ethos. For example, a 'Mountain Guru' has been recruited from a nearby village on the Green Mountain to take guests on private excursions to discover hidden hiking trails and experience the surrounding history, culture and landscape.
Another initiative to support the local community will be the resort's "Friday Souk" which will take place each week in the courtyard. Omanis from local villages will have the opportunity to sell their handicrafts to guests, whether it's jewellery, pottery or paintings. The resort have also been supporting a group of local women who sew traditional Omani scarves, which the resort will give to guests as a souvenir.
To support the ongoing development of Omani employees, Anantara will be offering the team the chance to attend training programmes across their resorts in Thailand, providing them with the chance to hone their skills and immerse themselves in to the brand. This began last April, when Sami Al Balushi attended an HR conference in Bangkok, where he received training on Anantara's work and employee development programmes.
Darren Darwin, General Manager of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, said: "In line with Anantara's ongoing commitment to the local community in each of its destinations, our goal is to provide long-term employment and development opportunities for the residents of Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Oman. We have recognised that it is vital to attract and retain talent from the local pool after all no-one else has a better knowledge of the local culture as well as a desire to aid the region's future growth. We have developed excellent staff accommodation and facilities to cultivate a positive working environment and are introducing comprehensive training programmes to help employees grow and develop within the company. We look forward to giving the local community to opportunity to become involved with the resort, whether it's working directly for or alongside us."
A scenic two hour drive from Muscat International Airport or four and a half hours from Dubai, passing date plantations, wadis and historical forts, the resort will offer an exhilarating escape for culture and history enthusiasts. A total of 115 rooms and villas will comprise of 82 Premier and Deluxe Rooms and 33 Pool Villas, each offering views of dramatic canyon or tranquil garden. Six restaurants and lounges will cater to every requirement, whilst impressive facilities include the cliff-edge infinity pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre, tennis court and world-acclaimed Anantara Spa. Year-round pleasant temperatures will allow guests to explore the wealth of experiences on offer, including sunrise yoga, archery, quad biking and excursions to the multitude of nearby heritage attractions.
-Ends-
About
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world's most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.
From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 30 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE and Qatar, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa.
For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com.
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels
About Global Hotel Alliance:
Founded in 2004, and based on the airline alliance model, Global Hotel Alliance ("GHA") is today the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands. GHA uses a shared technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its member brands, and operates a multi-brand loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, which has over six million members. GHA's member brands encompass over 550 upscale and luxury hotels with 110,000 rooms across 76 different countries. For more information visit www.gha.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Eleanore Longley Account Director elongley@prco.com +971 4 2784 903
Maryanne Haggas Account Manager mhaggas@prco.com +971 4 2784 909
© Press Release 2016
