Dubai College of Tourism and Hilton Form Partnership to Train Emiratis for Tourism Workforce

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 14 November 2020: Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), part of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has announced a strategic partnership with leading international hospitality company, Hilton, as part of DCT's Medyaf programme, the industry nationalisation initiative aimed at preparing Emiratis for careers across tourism touchpoints in line with Dubai's tourism growth strategy.

Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of DCT and William Costley, Senior Vice President, Arabian Peninsula Turkey, Hilton, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).The MOU will pave the way for the training of UAE nationals in various roles in the hospitality sector and will include internship opportunities across culinary and hotel operations at Hilton-branded hotels in the UAE, as well as year-round training opportunities for students including virtual learning, the opportunity to hear from Hilton experts and participation in career day activities.

Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of Dubai College of Tourism, commented: "The agreement with global hospitality leader Hilton will provide a major impetus to our Medyaf programme to attract and train talented Emiratis for gainful employment in the tourism sector. It is also a reflection of the strong spirit of collaboration that exists between government and private sector establishments in Dubai and will further enhance the role of the hospitality sector in the implementation of Dubai's tourism strategy designed to make the city the worlds No.1 most visited, revisited and preferred destination. With the world going through challenging times, it is imperative to expand the pool of local talent and we are confident that by working with industry partners of the calibre of Hilton, we will be able to achieve the goals of our industry nationalisation drive, a critical element in strengthening Dubais tourism workforce."

Commenting on the agreement, William Costley,Senior Vice President, Arabian Peninsula Turkey, Hilton,said,"Attracting the very best talent to our hotels is critical to our success in Dubai as we expand our portfolio and play an important role in realising the tourism vision for this world-leading destination. This MoU reinforces our commitment to Dubai College of Tourism and the Medyaf programme and we look forward to providing DCT students with incredible opportunities to learn from the best teams in the business and to expand their hospitality skills."

Mr. Costley also revealed that recently, Hilton's three hotels in Al Seef hosted a series of virtual sessions as part of the Medyaf programme to enlighten young Emirati nationals on future employment prospects in the tourism sector led by Remco Werkhoven, Cluster General Manager of Hilton's Al Seef hotels. More than 100 Emiratis who have enrolled for the Medyaf course participated in the virtual sessions hosted by Hilton.

Through its Medyaf programme, DCT offers Emirati job seekers a robust recruitment, training and industry on-boarding platform, helping candidates define their interests and preferences for a suitable career within the tourism industry, based on their skills and competencies. It also helps industry leaders understand the importance of hiring UAE nationals and investing in their career development.

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About Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism)

With the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world's leading tourism destination and commercial hub, Dubai Tourism's mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate. Dubai Tourism is the principal authority for the planning, supervision, development and marketing of Dubai's tourism sector. It markets and promotes the Emirates commerce sector, and is responsible for the licensing and classification of all tourism services, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents. Brands and departments within the Dubai Tourism portfolio include Dubai Business Events, Dubai Calendar, and Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

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About Dubai College of Tourism (DCT)

DCT runs the first-of-its-kind multi-disciplinary educational platform in the region. The College provides foundation, certificate and diploma courses in tourism, hospitality, retail, events and culinary arts through the TVET accreditation framework. DCT aims to be recognised as the premier vocational institution in the region with its courses bridging the gap between in-house training and a full bachelor's degree, ensuring a steady stream of highly trained tourism professionals for the city. The college is also responsible for delivering fundamental programmes specifically designed for those working within the tourism industry, such as Dubai Way (for tourist-facing staff in Dubai) and'Dubai Expert'(an interactive online training tool for international travel agents).