THE VATELIEN SPIRIT – PROUD GRADUATES SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

Vatelien Mahdi Husain

Hospitality has always been a value embedded in the Bahraini culture. The people of Bahrain are raised with the belief that taking care of guests and welcoming them is a merit of honour. Vatel goes a step further and equips them with professional hands-on training and knowledge. Before joining Vatel, I worked at a local restaurant. I’ve always had a genuine interest in taking care of people. While I didn’t have a clear vision of where I was headed, I soon realised that dedicating four years of my life to this programme was the best investment I could have ever made. It did not just help me to pursue what I love but created a range of career opportunities. During my course, I participated in the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) conference, a training programme on tour guiding, a first for Bahrain, as well as interned for three international brands. I also trained in Paris for six months in my last year. These along with several other experiences have built the foundation for my first job.

Vatelien

AlDanah Almusawi

Vatel opened my eyes to how promising a career in hospitality can be. My experience in the last four years has shown me where my passion lies. My journey has led me to a position at the prestigious Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa, even before my official graduation, where I will embark on my dream career and assert myself within this increasingly growing industry. The feeling of accomplishment that I am experiencing at this young age and at a very early stage in my career is something to be grateful for and not take for granted. I owe this feat to the unique journey I undertook with Vatel and hope that the coming years continue to be as fruitful.

Vatelien Ammar Swar

Coming from a family of hospitality professionals, I felt like this was the career path I was destined to pursue. Vatel came at the perfect time and seemed like an excellent opportunity for me to explore the field academically. Like every great journey, mine had a bumpy start. I found it difficult to assert myself within the industry and get a hang of things. However, as time passed, I had the chance to reflect on my shortcomings. I used what I learned to push myself forward and become an increasingly better version of myself. The programme offered quite the challenge, which I found to be intriguing. Especially the increased responsibility I took on during my last internship, where I was in charge of operating three different departments at Vatel and reported directly to the General Director. It was an invaluable experience and I owe it all to Vatel. I can’t wait for the next challenge!

I started my career in 2015, before joining Vatel Bahrain. Since then I have had the opportunity to work with local and international brands such as The Domain Hotel and Spa, Wyndham Grand Manama, Starbucks Reserve and The Art Hotel & Resort. I am currently at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. However, during my journey with Vatel, I discovered more about the hospitality industry, developed new skills and built further connections with hoteliers and leaders alike. Being part of Vatel Bahrain was the best thing that happened to my career as a hospitality professional. Now that I am an alumnus, I will continue capitalising on the opportunities that are presented to me to become a future leader and an ambassador of my country and industry.