JEDDAH – In line with its commitment to develop local talent in the hospitality industry, InterContinental Jeddah has launched a program called I-Grads to develop and groom future leaders. This program was introduced in various universities and colleges to attract fresh Saudi graduates and diploma holders to this program. The response from candidates was very positive and after doing plenty of telephone and behavioral interviews the Human Resources (HR) team shortlisted 24 internal and external candidates to this program from the Kingdom's western area. An assessment was held on December 16 at the InterContinental Jeddah to select the final I-Grads who will take a one-and-half- year of training after which they will be guaranteed to a line-manager or assistant department head level in the company. The participants went through a series of individual and group exercises wherein they were assessed by 12 senior HR and operational leaders against the hotel group leadership competencies. The training was facilitated by Anjum Khan, the hotel's area training manager for KSA West, and Mohamed Aleemuddin, area training manager for KSA East and Central. More than 50 percent of the participants have been selected to join in the program. — SG
