March 21st marked a key milestone for 14 partner hotels from Tunis and Hammamet who successfully completed the Pathways to Professionalism training. The award ceremony in Tunis was attended by more than 350 hospitality professionals from various departments, such as housekeeping, food and beverage, and food production, including young people and women. Additionally, partner hotels were recognized with the prestigious "Employer of Choice" award, which provides them with a significant competitive advantage. More partner hotels will also receive this award in Sousse in May, followed by Djerba at a later date.
“Since a few years of crisis followed by COVID-19, many hospitality professionals quit their jobs and some shifted careers. Within the current recovery situation on both international and national levels, our biggest challenge is to find qualified staff to ensure high quality service. Turnover and immigration rates are high. It’s crucial to strengthen the capacity of hotels to more efficiently train and rapidly respond to this season’s demand.”— Dora Milad, President of the Fédération Tunisienne de l'Hôtellerie (FTH).
“The program’s approach rooted in technical competencies sparked our interest. Since our hotel opened in April 2018, our biggest challenge has been to ensure our collaborators meet our client expectations and our hotel group/chain’s standards. It is important they learn how to master their skills to deliver high quality service. The training was a friendly reminder to keep applying the best practices daily. Moreover, new staff acquired the same level of knowledge. It was a great opportunity for colleagues to share information and align their work with our quality standards.” — Nicolas Pezout, General Manager of the Mövenpick Hotel du Lac Tunis
Over 350 Hospitality Professionals Trained Through the Pathways to Professionalism Program
USAID Visit Tunisia Activity held a certification ceremony on March 21st to recognize the hard work and dedication of over 350 hospitality professionals working at 14 hotels in Tunis and Hammamet who successfully completed on-the-job training in line with international industry standards. 40% of certified employees are women.
“I completed Level 2 of the Pathways to Professionalism training. I am full of hope to seek better opportunities for myself. I learned the best practices of housekeeping that are compliant with international standards. I am confident to deliver excellent service quality for my employer.” — Manel Mhadhbi, 30-year-old Hotel Maid working at the Golden Tulip Taj Sultan Hammamet
Successful completion of the program involves a practical exam, an online assessment, and a final interview with their employer.
“The knowledge and skills I learned at the training will help my career by leveling up my Curriculum Vitae and allow me to work with high level hotels.” — Hamdi Mansouri, a 22-year-old Restuarant Clerk
14 “Employer of Choice” Hotels Gain a Significant Competitive Advantage
In addition to the Pathways award, the 14 partner hotels have been recognized as the “Employer of Choice” for providing good work conditions and opportunities for training and professional development.
“The training was impeccable. I learned new things such as how to improve service quality. I particularly appreciated that the training built team spirit and improved the work relationship between colleagues from different departments (administration, restaurant, etc.) ultimately bringing hotels closer. We are lucky to access such a high-quality training in Tunisia and looking forward to more trainings like this one!” — Yassine Sahnoun, Banquet Manager at the Barcelo Concorde Hotel
Attaining the status of an "Employer of Choice" can provide a substantial competitive advantage for a hotel's long-term success, as it offers numerous benefits to the organization and can contribute to:
- Increasing current employees’ engagement
- Attracting and retaining top talent
- Reducing turnover rates
- Enhancing the hotel’s brand reputation
- Improving the employee productivity at work
“I completed Level 3 of the program. Some of the training was different because it provided new knowledge that we don’t normally apply in our service (restaurant kitchen). What we learned will transform the way we work and the way we meet client satisfaction. We know we can do better, and we will.” — Khalil Khchini, 25-year-old Chef Assistant at the Mövenpick Hotel du Lac Tunis.
What’s Next for Hotels Professionals in 2023?
The Pathways to Professionalism program is ongoing, and the recognition ceremony will be expanded to partner hotels in Sousse in May, with further awards planned for Djerba at a later date.
“The program helped hotels recognize their employee’s work, evaluate their competencies, motivate them to level up the quality of their service. This will allow us to retain our human resources and make a great impact. The program’s timing is perfect, and acts as a great reminder to apply best practices in preparation of the season.” — Dora Milad, President of the Fédération Tunisienne de l'Hôtellerie (FTH).
Check all the photos from the Award Ceremony!
The Pathways to Professionalism program is designed for hotels in Tunisia, offering work-based training using an innovative approach for professionals in the hospitality sector. Its primary objective is to enhance the quality of hotel services and employment opportunities in Tunisia by providing training to 2,500 professionals, including young people and women, by the end of 2023. Pathways to Professionalism is implemented by
USAID Visit Tunisia Activity in cooperation with the
Agence de Formation dans les Métiers du Tourisme (AFMT) and the
Fédération Tunisienne de l'Hôtellerie (FTH).
