Marriott International Maldives held a graduation ceremony at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, to commemorate the achievements of its first intake of apprentices for the Marriott International Maldives Apprenticeship Program. The event was held on 16th March 2024, and was attended by Ibrahim Waheed, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts ; Gautam Bhandari, Senior Vice President, Hotel Development & Operations, Marriott International, and Mark Fletcher, Area Director of Human Resources, Singapore & Maldives, Marriott International.
The Marriott International Maldives Apprenticeship Program, created in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, and Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT), was launched as a pilot initiative on 9th May 2023. The partnership marked a significant milestone for both Marriott International and the government of Maldives, with Marriott International being the first international hospitality brand to collaborate with the government apprenticeship program.
Under the Marriott Apprenticeship Program, MIT provided the theoretical part of the curriculum, while participants gained practical experience across various disciplines at Marriott International’s portfolio of resorts in the Maldives, including The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, W Maldives, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, and The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort.
The first graduating class was composed of 43 apprentices who were awarded Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) approved level-3 certification for completing the 10 month program. The program is designed to identify local talent, contributing to their inclusion in the Maldivian hospitality market as a Take Care initiative pertaining to Corporate Social Responsibility at Marriott International. Simultaneously, it aims to empower Maldivian youth, particularly those who are marginalized, by providing them with skills essential for success in the thriving tourism industry.
“The Marriott International Maldives Apprenticeship Program reflects our commitment to nurturing local talent and equipping them with the skills to excel in the Maldives’ thriving tourism industry,” commented Gautam Bhandari. “A number of graduates have been offered positions, and it brings us great joy to see them join the Marriott family. Their Marriott experience is poised to be rewarding and instrumental in supporting their career aspirations.”