A significant milestone in Egypt’s hospitality sector was celebrated this week with the graduation of the first cohort from an innovative employability programme. This initiative, aimed at bolstering youth employment and promoting inclusivity, is set to transform the landscape of the industry.

The project with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) in Egypt is supported by the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The Special Initiative, which also operates under the brand ‘Invest for Jobs’, aims to team up with companies to create good jobs in the eight African partner countries, and to improve local working conditions and social protection.

The Alliance’s pioneering project is making waves in Egypt’s hospitality sector. The programme’s success lies in its collaborative approach – working closely with hotels, food and beverage businesses, local training partners, and non-profit organisations to address needs and remove barriers to employment for young people, particularly women.

Nada Ibrahim (Learning and Development Manager, The St. Regis Cairo), Mohamed Mahmoud (Le Meridien Cairo Airport, Amr Awwad, HR Generalist, The St. Regis Almasa, Cairo), Glenn Mandziuk (CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance), Amira El Hattab (Director of Training, Le Meridien Cairo Airport) Abier Mostafa (Learning & Development Manager, JW Marriott Cairo), and Nada Rashwan (The St. Regis Almasa) pose next to an employability programme banner at the graduation ceremony.

L-R: Nada Ibrahim (Learning and Development Manager, The St. Regis Cairo), Mohamed Mahmoud (Le Meridien Cairo Airport, Amr Awwad, HR Generalist, The St. Regis Almasa, Cairo), Glenn Mandziuk (CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance), Amira El Hattab (Director of Training, Le Meridien Cairo Airport) Abier Mostafa (Learning & Development Manager, JW Marriott Cairo), and Nada Rashwan (The St. Regis Almasa).

The programme operates in Cairo and Hurghada, with plans to expand nationwide. Its first graduation ceremony, hosted by Le Méridien Hotel Airport, Cairo, saw the jubilation of 50 graduates and attendees from Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Kerten Hospitality, Radisson Hotel Group, Jaz Hotels, and TICO (Touristic Investment Company). Etijah, a non-profit organisation providing programme training, also attended, proving the broad-based support for this essential endeavour.

The training included three weeks of ‘soft skills’ work in a classroom environment, followed by two months of practical training within a hotel. Trainees worked across the bar, restaurants, reception and housekeeping.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, was on hand at the graduation ceremony and commented on the programme’s impact:

“This initiative has had a tangible positive effect on local communities. I’m thrilled to congratulate the graduates, who’ve shown exceptional drive and leadership. This programme will undoubtedly serve as a model for future employment initiatives in Egypt and globally.”
Glenn Mandziuk (CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance) speaks on stage at the graduation ceremony

Glenn Mandziuk (CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance)

Felix Fach, Consultant GIZ, said:

“We congratulate the students on their graduation and are delighted the programme has had such a positive impact on the local communities.  We look forward to following the graduates’ progress as they embark on their careers and hope to welcome more prospective students.”

Magdy Anis, the General Manager of St. Regis Cairo and Chairman of the Marriott Egypt Business Council said:

“Congratulations to all graduates and partners for a great achievement.  We are honoured to be part of this project as it represents Marriott International’s commitment to promote social justice, empower women, support their growth, and open up major opportunities for underrepresented populations in our country. By making investments in its growth, we hope to make Egypt’s hospitality sector more prosperous and inclusive in the future.”

Karim Shawar, Head of Programmes at Etijah, said:

“We are very grateful to everyone who contributed and cooperated in creating these opportunities, and we aspire to create more opportunities for the participating youth through our collaboration.”

Addressing the graduates, Karim added:

“Today is the beginning of an important stage in your life after completing the practical training. This is a moment of victory, perseverance, and achievement. Always remember the dedication, hard work, determination, flexibility, and passion that helped you reach this important event, and we will continue to support you through the programme to obtain training opportunities and keep pursuing the dream of working in the field in a group of the best hotels in Egypt.”
Image shows Felix Fach (Consultant, GIZ), Glenn Mandziuk (CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance) and Karim Shawar (Head of Programmes, Etijah) posing with a graduate who holds her certificate, in front of a branded step and repeat, at the graduation ceremony.

L-R: Felix Fach (Consultant, GIZ), Glenn Mandziuk (CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance), a graduate, and Karim Shawar (Head of Programmes, Etijah)

Eman Yousry, a 22-year-old programme graduate, shared:

“I discovered the programme when Etijah’s team visited my college. I was thrilled about the opportunity as it matched my interests, yet I didn’t know how to get in. After completing soft skills and practical training, I secured a position at the hotel where I received my practical training. I’m proud to handle significant responsibilities despite being on the job for less than 3 months.”

Mohamed Assad, also 22 and a programme graduate, said:

“I completed the practical training and received a job offer from the hotel where I trained. I was very excited about learning new things about the industry and how hospitality works. The trainers were great and supportive. This helped me adjust quickly to my new work environment. I’m hopeful for the future and dream of becoming a professional chef one day.”

This project is part of the Alliance’s ‘Net Positive Accelerators’ which aim to inspire the Alliance’s members and leverage their footprints and operations to launch collaborative pilot initiatives targeting systemic issues in specific destinations. The aim is to capture critical learnings and potential for scaling and replication, which will be disseminated to the broader industry.

To find out more about the Alliance’s employability programme in Egypt, visit https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/giz-employability-partnership/.