53 tourism sector employees complete training

The four-day conference, organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), was meant to offer in-depth knowledge to tourism industry employees of hotel and travel businesses, including guest relations, concierge and sightseeing.

The 53 participants were mostly staff members from the major hotels in Abu Dhabi.

Armed Forcers Officers Club and Marina Mall Customer Service were also represented.

During the ceremony, all graduates received certificates while ADTA offered a few team and individual prizes, consisting of gift vouchers, trophies and tourist guide books.

Etihad Airways, one of the Conference sponsors, awarded the four top winners, who came from the Intercontinental, Emirates Palace (two entries) and Royal Meridien hotels, with airline tickets for either a GCC country or an Asian destination of their choice.

Rodrigo Lapitan, who works as concierge at Sands Hotel, said, "The city tours were my favourite part of the course, because we get so many questions from hotel guests about where to go and what to see and now I'll be able to give them proper guidance."

Moine Kandil, general manager of Millennium Hotel, was among the hotel top brass present at the graduation event. He said that he was very pleased with the achievements of his four employees from the front desk, who took part in the conference.

"They had a very good chance to see all the attractions Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have to offer and now they will be able to talk freely with hotel guests about the emirate's culture."

Ahmed Al Hosani, director of the marketing division of the ADTA, said that this conference was part of ADTA's goal to make Abu Dhabi a world class tourist destination.