Movenpick Hotels Launches Career Programme for Saudi Nationals

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has launched a new exclusive training programme for a select group of Saudi Nationals – those working in management positions with the company who demonstrate strong leadership potential.

The Mövenpick Saudi Development Centre (MSDC) initiative, which supports the Saudi Government’s long-term plans for boosting employment and increasing the number of Nationals working in the private sector, including key economic growth industries such as hospitality and tourism, was recently launched in Jeddah (21-22 January, 2018).

Mövenpick identified nine Saudi Nationals working in mid-management positions at six of the hotel group’s Saudi hotels – in Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Khobar, Yanbu, Makkah and Madinah – to take part in the first round of MSDC training.

They included Managers of departments ranging from Human Resources and Sales to Front Office and Learning & Development, all of whom have the potential to be promoted to Executive Assistant Managers and General Managers, with further programmes planned for other talented Nationals employed with Mövenpick in Saudi Arabia in the future.

All candidates selected for the initial MSDC training took part in role plays, group discussions presentations and information analysis activities followed by one-to-one coaching designed to help them create a personalised career development plan for the next 12 to 18 months. This will help them focus on how best to fast-track their career, with tailored support from each individual’s General Manager and the company’s management team, built into their strategy.

“Mövenpick places a strong emphasis on career progression and training, promoting internally wherever possible and mentoring team members as company leaders of the future,” said Alex Rawson, Vice President, Human Resources, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Middle East and Africa.

“The Mövenpick Saudi Development Centre initiative is not only a manifestation of our commitment to professional development, but is also aligned to the National Transformation Programme (NTP) 2020 and Saudi Vision 2030, which both set targets for employing and promoting Saudi Nationals working in sectors considered crucial to the Kingdom’s long-term economic prosperity, including the hotel industry.”

MSDC candidates were required to take part in several online assessments and interviews before being accepted onto the course, with selection criteria based on their performance in their current role, commitment to the company’s culture and its brand values and leadership potential.

Mövenpick collaborated with Innovative HR Solutions (IHS), one of the Gulf’s largest teams of occupational psychologist and learning and development specialists, to run the MSDC initiative.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, which has been earmarked as a key growth driver in the Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, is expected to generate around 1.2 million jobs for Saudis from now until 2030. Improving education and training has been identified as crucial to achieving this goal, part of a wider plan to drive up employment rates Kingdom-wide.