Crowne Plaza Muscat employees spend ten weeks working at top London hotel

A selection of high performing staff from all aspects of hospitality, including housekeeping, front office and food and beverage departments, took part in ten weeks of on-the-job training from 15th June to 31st August, at the prestigious, recently refurbished five star property.

Chosen for their commitment and dedication to the hospitality business it was, for some, their first venture overseas. David Todd, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Muscat said, "All of these individuals have shown exceptional growth and enthusiasm in their roles, and for this reason, we chose to develop their skills further by sending them to London."

The five individuals were all Omani Nationals, namely Mohammed Al Ajmi - Assistant Executive Housekeeper; Sameer Al Zadjaly - Food and Beverage Captain; Faheem Al Sulaiman - Front Office Supervisor; Abdullah Al Handasi - Laundryman; Ahmed Al Balushi - Food and Beverage Waiter.

"This was an amazing opportunity for all of us to brush up on our skills, explore different areas of the business and, most importantly, gain an insight into how our job is done by colleagues in Europe," said Ahmed Al Balushi, a food and beverage room service waiter and one of the trainees.

"As well as giving us the incentive to progress with our careers, it clarified that the Crowne Plaza Muscat is a world class property, providing the same five star services that you will find at any IHG hotel in the world."

As the first overseas cross exposure project undertaken by Crowne Plaza Muscat, the activity has been deemed an unquestionable success. Todd said, "Not only does it provide these employees with invaluable international training but also allows them to share their learning with the rest of the team. Conversely, the Park Lane also benefitted from a selection of committed and enthusiastic staff, to support the existing team during its busy summer season."