The Marriott Kigali Hotel Opens With Dozens of Akilah Grads on Staff
After years of preparation, the world’s largest hotel brand, Marriott International, officially opened its Kigali Marriott Hotel on October 4. The hotel marks Marriott’s first property in sub-Saharan Africa, and its new staff represent the culmination of a five-year partnership with Akilah.
Marriott has been one of Akilah’s most dedicated employment partners since the hotel brand first started scouting locations in Rwanda in 2011. Today, Marriott employs more than 40 Akilah graduates in Africa and the Middle East.
Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorenson (pictured, center) with Akilah graduates working at the Kigali Marriott Hotel
Welcome to the Kigali Marriott Hotel
Walk inside the grand entrance of the dazzling Kigali Marriott Hotel, and the hostess greeting you will most likely be an Akilah alum. Continue to the front desk, restaurant, bar, and the likelihood of interacting with Akilah graduates goes up. The same applies in the marketing and HR offices. Most of the Kigali Marriott’s departments employ former Akilah students.
For more than five years, Akilah students and graduates have been sent for training and employment in some of Marriott’s hotels in the Middle East, including Dubai and Kuwait. While some have stayed abroad, most graduates have now returned to Kigali to join the newly opened hotel.
“After receiving on-the-job skills and leadership training, the first wave of graduates have returned to Rwanda to join the management team at the Kigali Marriott, where they will help welcome guests from around the world,” explains Marriott International CEO Arne Sorensen.
‘Invaluable’ Career Experience
For Akilah graduates, working at the Marriott is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “The experience and exposure our graduates get by working at the Marriott are invaluable and set them up for successful career paths,” says Akilah Country Director Aline Kabanda.
Akilah alumnae and now Marriott employees with Akilah Business instructor Jacqueline Semakula
Marriott also benefits from the confidence, customer service skills, and practical experience of Akilah graduates. Akilah alumnae stand out, according to Yulia Bogdonova, HR Director for the Kigali Marriott Hotel. “We continue to work with Akilah graduates because they are confident, proactive, smart, good at English, fast learners, engaging, and have excellent communication skills,” she says.
Beyond employment, Akilah works with Marriott to position graduates for supervisory positions at the hotel. “We are thrilled to have Marriott as one of our most dedicated partners as we work to ensure our Akilah alumnae take on leadership roles in the hospitality industry in Rwanda and globally,” Kabanda says.
New Opportunities
Akilah graduates can expect even more opportunities in the future. After recently acquiring Starwood Hotels, Marriott International is now the world’s largest hotel chain. The Marriott umbrella covers 30 hotel brands, 5,800 properties, and 1.1 million rooms in more than 110 countries. This expansion opens up incredible career opportunities for Akilah alumnae that join Marriott.
If the previous five years are any indication, future Akilah graduates can look forward to exciting career opportunities with a leading international brand.