Hilton worldwide hotels across Saudi Arabia celebrated the hospitality industry recently by participating in Careers@Hilton Live: Youth In Hospitality Month, the company's largest ever global career event showcasing to young people the many opportunities available in the company. Throughout the month of May, Hilton Worldwide's KSA-based hotels took part in a host of events designed to inform and excite young people looking for employment and to highlight the valuable long-term job prospects and considerable opportunities that are available in the industry. This month-long initiative is part of Bright Blue Futures, a global program that encourages Team Members to donate their time and expertise to help young people achieve stability and prepare them for a brighter future. In Saudi Arabia, Hilton Worldwide hotels in Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh took part in the initiative with a range of local community activity, including: • A visit by Hilton Worldwide's senior leadership to Laureate Riyadh Hospitality & Tourism College where 250 students enjoyed a discussion and insight into the world of hospitality at Hilton Worldwide. The event also included a live cooking demonstration. • In Madinah, students from Madinah College were invited to Hilton Madinah to experience first-hand the delights of a hospitality career. The students were offered job shadowing experience across a range of departments including restaurants and kitchen and front office. • Jeddah Hilton invited young Saudis from Prince Sultan Hospitality College to develop their skills in the hospitality field for a full day of job shadowing and exploring the hospitality career opportunities. The event provided exposure to youth candidates in the field of restaurants and kitchens and front office. Student guests were also given the opportunity for career counseling with field experts. Globally, young people — the biggest demographic in the world — are facing serious challenges building and growing careers. In 2013, nearly 74 million young people were unemployed. Career preparation is crucial for these young people and their contribution to our global economy. The travel and tourism industry is the world's single largest employer, supporting one in every 11 jobs worldwide, and will need to play a leading role in addressing the youth unemployment challenge. Mahmoud Mocha, vice president, Hilton Worldwide, KSA said: “The future success of our business will rely on the success of the next generation taking full advantage of the extensive opportunities available in the industry. In Saudi Arabia, we are on course to open more than 20 new hotels in the Kingdom in the next four years and we will have career vacancies to suit every skill and preference. The month-long Careers@Hilton event has provided the perfect platform to highlight the diversity of opportunities on offer and to promote the very best the company can offer its team members.” — SG
