Training in the Hospitality Sector: An Interactive Session Connecting Students with the Labor Market
As part of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels’ commitment to enhancing the practical aspect of education and linking students with the labor market, Dr. Omar Taha, within the Human Resources Management course, hosted Ms. Siba Ayoub, Training Manager at Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort. The session began with Ms. Ayoub introducing herself and presenting her professional experience in training and development within the hospitality sector, highlighting the important role of the Human Resources department in developing competencies and improving organizational performance.
The session included an interactive discussion with students, during which they raised several questions reflecting their interest in the field of training. The guest emphasized that the key skills required for a training manager in today’s work environment include effective communication skills, analytical ability, adaptability to change, and familiarity with modern training technologies. She also explained that identifying training needs is achieved through employee performance evaluation, skills gap analysis, and coordination with department managers. She noted that among the main challenges in implementing training programs are time constraints and varying trainee levels, which can be addressed by designing flexible programs suitable for different groups.
Regarding measuring the impact of training, she explained that this is done by monitoring employee performance after completing training programs, using clear performance indicators, and collecting feedback from participants. She also stressed the importance of motivating less enthusiastic employees by linking training to their career development and engaging them through interactive methods. Furthermore, she discussed the criteria used in selecting trainers and training materials, which include practical experience, relevance of content to organizational needs, and the quality of training methods. She also shared a successful example of a training program that significantly improved service quality within the hotel.
At the end of the session, the guest emphasized her commitment to keeping up with the latest developments in training and development through continuous learning and participation in specialized courses. She advised hospitality management students to continuously develop their skills, gain practical experience, and maintain passion to succeed in this dynamic field. This session is part of a series of activities organized by the faculty to enrich the educational process and enhance students’ readiness to enter the labor market.
