Marriott International has announced that its hospitality training program, Tahseen, celebrated its first graduating class in Egypt.

Developed in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation, the company created the unique program for Egypt in 2018 to support its commitment to further enhance tourism education in the country. It focuses on fast-tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders by providing them with firsthand experience in the industry and a springboard to launch successful careers in hospitality. In 2019, the program received the Ministry of Higher Education’s approval in Egypt and earned bachelor’s degree accreditation.

The inaugural graduating class featured 80 students who completed the first-of-its-kind bachelor of hotel operations management degree.

The degree is earned upon completion of a four-year program broken down into one year at university followed by three years of classroom learning and on-site training across Marriott International properties in the country.

Satya Anand, president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Marriott International, said: “We are excited to celebrate the first group of graduates as part of our Tahseen program in Egypt. Tahseen is focused on providing young people with the skills and experience to grow and thrive in the hospitality business and be part of the success of Egypt’s travel and tourism sector. As a company, we remain committed to enhancing tourism education in Egypt and developing the next wave of exciting and impactful local hospitality leaders in the country.”

Following the completion of the program, Marriott International plans to offer the graduates full-time roles within its properties in Egypt across functions such as front desk, reservations, sales, events, marketing, human resources, food and beverage, housekeeping and finance.

Looking ahead, Tahseen has nearly 100 students currently enrolled and scheduled to complete the bachelor’s degree in the coming years. The program also plans to welcome more than 50 new students this year.

Tahseen is an integral part of Marriott International’s strategy in Egypt, where the company’s portfolio includes 18 properties, with more than 7,000 rooms across eight brands. The company currently has more than 9,000 Egyptian nationals employed across its portfolio, representing 99 percent of its workforce in the country.