Millennium Hotels and Resorts Middle East and Africa (MHR MEA) has launched the TooMooH Internship Development Programme (TIDP), to accelerate Emiratization and promote regional talent and leadership development in the hospitality sector.

TIDP is part of the larger TooMooH initiative that MHR MEA launched in August last year, and is aimed at increasing local employment in the hospitality and overall private sector. The programme is open to all colleges and universities in the UAE and is designed to provide Emirati students with work exposure in the industry. The internships last between three to six months, and students will receive comprehensive hands-on training in different aspects of the hospitality business.

“The Arabs are globally known for their warm hospitality tradition. However, the hospitality industry in the Arab world is dominated by expatriates,” said MHR MEA President Mr Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi.

“With proper training, grooming and mentoring of local talents, we could change the landscape and help create more jobs for UAE nationals who could one day lead the tourism industry by example. It is precisely with this objective, Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA launched this great initiative that we believe, will boost Emiratisation in the UAE’s booming hospitality and tourism industry,” he added.

TooMooH, which translates to ‘ambition’, is a comprehensive, four-tier national development programme that focuses on the career advancement of fresh graduates, executives, and leaders. Under TIDP, students will receive training at three levels – internship, management trainee and school trainees.

According to Dubai Tourism data, hotel room supply in the city is set to reach 132,000 by end-2019, while the hospitality sector is forecasted to experience strong, sustained growth over the coming years. MHR MEA, along with the support of partners such as Dubai College of Tourism, is supporting the growing need of integrating UAE talent into the hospitality and tourism industry.