ARTIC launches Hospitality Excellence Programme

Al Rayyan Tourism and Investment Company (ARTIC) has launched the ARTIC Hospitality Excellence Programme, in collaboration with its sister company, Al Rayyan Investment in Education and Sports (ARIES), to offer internship opportunities across the educational institutions operating under its umbrella.

Initially, the programme will launch at Al Rayyan International University College (ARIU), which operates under ARIES. Leveraging ARIU’s status as one of Qatar’s leading private universities and its affiliation with the University of Derby, the partnership will provide internship opportunities across ARTIC hotels for ARIU students specialising in tourism and hospitality.

It underscores both ARTIC’s and ARIES’s shared commitment to harnessing higher-education and business partnerships to foster experiential learning and provide invaluable industry experience for aspiring hospitality professionals.

Both ARTIC and ARIES are subsidiaries under the umbrella of Al Faisal Holding, one of Qatar's leading industrial groups. The collaboration highlights the strong synergies present within the organisation, allowing diverse entities to work in harmony to achieve common goals.

Through partnerships such as this, Al Faisal Holding remains committed to creatively deploying its collective expertise and resources to drive innovation and develop impactful initiatives that benefit the community at large.

As part of the programme, ARTIC will open its doors to ARIU students, offering them the chance to undergo internships across its esteemed hotel portfolio in Qatar, which includes leading hotels operated by the likes of Marriott, Hilton, and Rotana.

With 35 hotels in its portfolio, including 12 in Qatar and others in the Mena region, Europe, and the US, ARTIC can offer a diverse array of internship opportunities across various leading hotel operators.

Tarek el-Sayed, managing director and CEO of ARTIC, said: "We are pleased to announce this initiative in collaboration with as prominent an educational institution as Al Rayyan International University College. The hospitality and tourism sector in Qatar and the region is seeing significant growth and strong momentum, which in turn requires high-calibre competencies.

"Given ARTIC’s position as one of the leading investors in the hospitality sector, setting benchmarks in global hospitality, it is essential for us to contribute directly and play an active role in developing high-level professionals, whether Qatari nationals or residents, who aspire to a career in hospitality and tourism."

He added: “We are proud of ARTIC’s investments and strong relationships with the world's top hotel operators, and we are pleased to open the door through this collaboration for students to access the best training opportunities from leading hospitality operators. We are glad to contribute to enhancing the skills and expertise necessary to promote hospitality and tourism in Qatar, the region, and globally.

"We consider this initiative to be part of our social responsibility and commitment to investing in education. We will also seek to continue developing talent and contributing to the development of the hospitality sector, whether locally or globally, by providing students with exposure to real-world best business practices."

Mona Helbawi, general manager of Al Rayyan Investment in Education, commented: “This collaboration underscores Al Rayyan Investment in Education’s steadfast commitment to advancing education in Qatar and providing students with high-quality opportunities.

"Practical, hands-on training provides an important foundation for enriching students' knowledge and preparing them for the professional arena. We remain dedicated to supporting the educational landscape and eagerly anticipate further collaborations through our various educational institutions.”

Dr Ivan Ninov, executive dean and professor of Al Rayyan International University College, said: "We are pleased to provide this opportunity to our students by leveraging the many avenues for collaboration available under the Al Faisal Holding umbrella.

"ARTIC boasts a leading portfolio in Qatar, offering invaluable experiences that will enhance our students’ knowledge and skills. This is a key milestone to support talent development in Qatar through higher-educational and industry partnerships."