Hilton Worldwide launches Passport to Success

L to R: Kate Murphy, Regional Learning and Development Manager: Africa & Indian Ocean; Peter Shiras, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Cindy Thomas, Regional Director of Human Resources Africa & Indian Ocean.

Hilton Worldwide and the International Youth Foundation adapted IYF's Passport to Success program to make a meaningful contribution to jobs creation and skills development in the hospitality industry for youth in the community. Hilton Worldwide and IYF originally launched the program in June 2013 in the Middle East.

"We are delighted to partner with IYF, in South Africa, and introduce the second instalment of Passport to Success® to the region. We are confident that we will make a meaningful change in the lives of young people who are passionate about joining the hospitality industry in Southern Africa and beyond," said Jan van der Putten, senior vice president of Hilton Worldwide, Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Life skills program

IYF's Passport to Success program is a world class life skills program that has been implemented in 30 countries, translated into 19 languages and has impacted the lives of more than 85,000 young people. It is a holistic approach using an interactive methodology that focuses on professional development, problem solving, promoting healthy lifestyles and working successfully in a diverse workplace.

The program is currently being piloted in five Hilton Worldwide hotels in Southern Africa. Forty entry-level team members are receiving training from Passport to Success trainers, who themselves received on-site training and coaching led by IYF. In addition to preparing African youth for success in the workplace, the program will also help strengthen the capacity of local youth-serving organisations to better serve the employment and civic engagement needs of the next generation of hoteliers.

Throughout the month of May, Hilton Worldwide around the globe is celebrating the company's largest career event, Careers@Hilton Live: Youth in Hospitality Month, by hosting hundreds of events targeted to inform those looking for employment, including young people, about the vast array of exciting opportunities available to all in the hospitality industry.

"Young people continue to face challenging employment prospects, so it is critical that we take an active role and ensure our next generation of leaders receive guidance and information as they embark on their chosen career paths. Our global and local partnerships are designed to provide the growing number of young people in Africa with access to life skills, education and employment opportunities within the hospitality industry" continued van der Putten.

This program supports Hilton Worldwide's pledge to Open Doors to one million young people by 2019, by connecting, preparing and employing them, as announced by Chris Nassetta, CEO, at the World Economic Forum this February in Davos.

For more, go to www.hiltonworldwide.com/youth