CAIRO—Marriott International has launched Tahseen, a hospitality training program developed in response to a growing need for talent within the industry.
Created in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation (PDF), the program is focused on fast tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders from Egypt by providing them with firsthand experience and a springboard to launch successful careers in the industry. Marriott International operates 18 hotels and resorts with more than 7,400 rooms across seven brands in Egypt. By 2020, Marriott International will have 22 operating hotels with more than 8,600 rooms.
“Marriott International is a company that believes in putting people first and we are committed to giving our associates the world-class training and the opportunity to grow and reach their potential, both personally and professionally. Our vision is to develop future leaders, empowered with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to be successful within the hospitality industry, both regionally and globally. Building a sustainable and robust hospitality education program like Tahseen that nurtures and builds national talent is key to our success,” said Arne Sorenson, president and CEO of Marriott International.
“Over the last four decades we have worked hard to consciously develop local talent and prepare them to become future leaders in hospitality,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Today we employ over 10,200 associates across our hotels in Egypt with 99% of them being local Egyptian nationals. Hospitality comes naturally to Egyptians. We therefore saw an opportunity and felt the need to play a more active role in the development of local talent in a formal and structured manner. We are delighted to partner with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation, for what is truly a pioneering effort in imparting quality hospitality education in the country by opening doors of opportunity for the youth.”
Tahseen was first launched by Marriott International in Saudi Arabia in 2017 and received positive results. Egypt is a strategic growth market for the company and was, therefore, a priority. Tahseen, which is set to commence in September, provides the technical training that complements the newly initiated “Hotel Management & Operations” bachelor’s degree program created through the joint efforts of the PDF and Helwan University.
Tahseen also falls under Marriott International’s new sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, which guides how the company makes a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business.