A new global program has been launched by Hyatt Hotels Corporation aimed at pairing up to 10,000 disadvantaged youth with entry-level roles in hospitality.
Dubbed ‘RiseHY’, the program seeks to address the alarming statistic from the International Labour Organisation that more than 40% of the world’s young people aged 16-24 are disconnected from their national economies and are either not in education and living in poverty. The RiseHY program will form new and nurture existing relationships between Hyatt hotels and community-based organisations to identify “soft skills” and match these with entry-level roles in both Hyatt group hotels and others which work with these organisations to try and find work for young people.
Hyatt Chief Human Resources Officer Malaika Myers said the company understands the challenges felt by young people and that it was in a unique position to be able to help.
“Hospitality is one of the few industries where entry-level opportunities often lead to fulfilling, life-long careers that can change the trajectory of someone’s life.
“With the launch of RiseHY, Hyatt hotels will harness the power of technology in ways our industry has never done before to scale career opportunities, bringing awareness to hospitality careers, setting candidates up for success from the start, and expanding training programs as a path for employment,” Myers added.
Candidates will be able to use technology including virtual reality to gain a snapshot of what employment looks like inside a Hyatt hotel. The technology will enable virtual access to roles including bell attendant, housekeeper, wait staff, entry-level culinary and various other roles. Suitably qualified candidates can also be referred to human resources teams to get somebody showing potential onto a professional track aligned with their skill sets.
“It has always been in the Hyatt DNA to build a diverse and inclusive global Hyatt family, and our hotels have been working with local organisations for decades to bring employment opportunities to underserved members of our communities,” Hyatt Hotels Corporation President & CEO Mark Hoplamazian commented.