The National Hospitality and Tourism Institute (NHTI), a private vocational institute operating under the Saudi Tourism and Hospitality Training Company (STHTC), has opened its admission doors for students in Jeddah. The institute has a ‘built-to-purpose' state-of-the-art campus equipped with all the required training facilities and labs. The total campus area is 3,000 sq. meters and operates in two shifts. Each shift can accommodate 275 students. According to Mukhtar Khan, director of the Intercontinental education in the Kingdom, students who have completed the grade 10 of study can enroll in the Hospitality Management Course and will graduate in Hotel Management in a period of three and a half years. Students may also transfer their credits to foreign countries, and those who complete the full course will be awarded a certificate under the accreditation of an American university. Enrollment is open to students of all nationalities. Khan further said, “the institute could provide students with visa and accommodation if they choose to join our main campus in Bahrain. We provide the students with theoretical as well as on-the-job training. You can choose individual courses as well, and be awarded certification for them. We assist students in getting their first job in Bahrain once the course the completed.” “NHTI's main focus is in developing manpower in the service sector in the kingdom. It works on a business model whereby it assists employers to train and develop new unskilled employees as an external training provider,” claimed Khan, and added that “All our programs are employment-driven and guarantee salary earnings from day one of the training.” The company is a joint venture between Saudi Trading and Resources (STAR) and Bahrain Institute of Hospitality and Retail (BIHR). NHTI awards recognition through local government approvals and international certification for all of its students. The institute carries an exclusive license from the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AH&LEI) in the Kingdom.
