Swiss-based Glion Institute of Higher Education (GIHE), one of the top three hotel management schools in the world, is seeing an increased interest from Saudi nationals to enroll in its hospitality courses, a statement said.

“Saudi Arabia is the largest hospitality market in the GCC. There is a huge demand for Saudi hospitality professionals in the industry because of the restrictions placed on the number of expatriates who can work in the country,” said Michael Huckaby, interim CEO of GIHE.

“We are honoured to have GIHE recognized by the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia.  The support received by the government scholarships, has made a difference in Saudi nationals wanting to get an unparalleled education in hospitality management at Glion.”

For many international hotel chains, Saudi Arabia is a strategic base in the region because of the large number of tourists visiting the country every year.

According to a report by Alpen Capital, tourist arrivals are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent between 2012 and 2022, driven by strong growth across all sectors, with occupancies set to jump from 67.5 per cent in 2011 to 74.2 per cent by 2016.

“We hope to generate increased awareness of the benefits of working in the industry and the growth and employability perspective for our graduates. Our management program is highly regarded by the hospitality industry, and data show that 13.6 per cent of our students in the management program hold positions in sales or marketing upon graduation,” said Huckaby.

Students at Glion receive a Swiss model hospitality education that combines theory, practice and internships, allowing them to develop concrete skills honed in real-world situations for a promising managerial career in the hospitality industry.

Highly reputed hospitality brands visit Glion every year to recruit students. In 2012, all Glion’s graduates wanting to enter the workforce, or 86 per cent of the class, received one or more job offers even before graduation, according to the statement. – TradeArabia News Service