Hospitality sector continues to enhance Bahraini talents

Manama : Tamkeen and the Westin and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre announced the graduation of 2016 last batch with 19 out of 80 young Bahrainis from the Grooming Bahraini Hospitality Talent (GBHT) Programme. 

The programme is part of Tamkeen’s customized employment initiatives where Tamkeen partners with employers to help them hire Bahrainis as well as train them to be able to acquire the skills needed to work in the employer’s industry. 

Apart from Starwood’s internal training department, the institutions providing training to the candidates included Third Wave International (TWI) and the Bahrain and William Angliss, an Australian institute ranked among the top five hotel management schools in the world. The graduates are currently working in departments that include culinary, front office, food & beverage and housekeeping. 

“This programme is aligned with Tamkeen’s mission to make Bahrainis the employees of choice for semi-skilled and skilled professions. Hence, the focus is on enrolling the newly recruited employees in internationally accredited training programme, in cooperation with  the Westin and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre which will improve their proficiency and productivity levels,” said Amal Al Kooheji,  Tamkeen’s Chief Operating Officer.

“We are certain the outcome of this programme will not only add value to our businesses but also to the local hospitality industry as well,” said Anna Marie Dowling, Complex General Manager of the Westin and Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre. 

“This three month customized initiative supported by Tamkeen in partnership with International hotel chains no doubt augur well as a step to making this industry popular for Bahraini Nationals to seek employment going forward,” said Dilip de S Wijeyeratne, Jt. Managing Director / CEO Third Wave International.  

“We are extremely excited to be awarded the certificate in Hospitality from William Angliss as a start and we hope that Tamkeen, Starwood, William Angliss and Third wave international will join together once again and support us to get advanced level trainings,” Ahmed Jaffer and Hamad Al Hamad commented on behalf of the graduates.