Southern Sun Qamardeen Hotel will once again host the participants of the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) Apprenticeship Programme, organized and managed by The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), an agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED). The DSS Apprenticeship Programme is an annual training and industry-exposure programme for the best and brightest university students throughout the Middle East & North Africa and 2010 will be the fourth consecutive year that Qamardeen Hotel provides a home away from home to the successful candidates during their rewarding two-week apprenticeship in Dubai.
Now in its fifth year, the Apprenticeship Programme 2010 invited a total of 50 universities across 10 key countries in the region, including UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt - and for the first time, Syria. Each country will be represented by a Business Administration or Marketing student following a highly competitive selection process. The winning apprentice will receive a once in a lifetime opportunity to work on DSS – one of the biggest tourism marketing success stories in the region.
Qamardeen Hotel is well positioned to host a programme of this nature having emerged as a popular business hotel in Dubai, since first opening its doors four years ago. Qamardeen Hotel is also one of the only two 4-star properties to appear in the Top 20 ranking of the Trip Advisor Popularity Index, out of the 377 Dubai hotels listed.
Mohamed Al Kamali, Acting Marketing Director DEPE said, “The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment is committed to the investment in the next generation of industry professionals through interactive mentoring that can provide a platform for talented students across the region. This award-winning programme provides valuable practical training and experience, as well as contact with industry professionals, and we extend our appreciation to Southern Sun whose consistent support has contributed to the success of this rewarding initiative."
Richard Weilers, Managing Director of Southern Sun Middle East, expressed pleasure at hosting the apprentices for the fourth consecutive year. “At Southern Sun we understand that for any hotel to be truly successful, it must resonate with its community through value-adding relationships that leave a legacy. The DSS Apprenticeship Programme is a unique and multi-dimensional internship that provides us with an opportunity to contribute to a worthy local initiative that has regional scope. As operators of Qamardeen Hotel, we are pleased to host the student participants during their stay in Dubai, and to ensure their optimum enjoyment of DSS through our service product,” said Weilers.
Qamardeen Hotel is conveniently situated in the vibrant Downtown Dubai area, giving the students direct access to various exciting shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities and activities during their free time. Qamardeen offers 186 well-appointed rooms, including 13 luxury suites and a host of amenities and recreational facilities. In addition to providing accommodation during the challenging two-week internship, the hotel provides standard complimentary wireless internet access for all rooms so students can also keep in touch with their families back home. A round-the-clock business centre and Wi-Fi facilities in public areas also provide additional support during times when the apprentices need to brainstorm ideas or work on their reports and assignments.
Since its inception in 2006, when the DSS Apprenticeship programme started with only four participating universities in two countries, the training programme has expanded in coverage and scope and was one of the primary reasons cited by the IPRA Golden World Awards, the Oscars of the public relations industry, in awarding the Travel and Tourism Award 2008 to DEPE, then known as the Dubai Shopping Festival Office.
Southern Sun entered the UAE in January 2007 and within four years has secured a firm foothold in the Middle East market, earning a reputation for excellence built on award winning service, superb cuisine and overall guest experience. Drawing from its 40 years of service, Southern Sun is the leading Hotel Group within Africa and operates a successful hotel portfolio with more than 90 hotels in eight countries.
