Marriott International marked the graduation of 31 apprentices from its Maldives Apprenticeship Program on 19 April with a ceremony at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. The initiative, launched in 2023 in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment and the Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT), is aimed at building local talent for the country’s growing hospitality industry.
The ten-month programme combines theoretical training at MIT with hands-on experience across Marriott’s portfolio of resorts in the Maldives, including The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, W Maldives, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, among others. Graduates received Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) Level-3 certification upon completion.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, Ibrahim Waheed, along with senior officials from MIT and Marriott International, including Mark Fletcher, Area Director of Human Resources for Singapore & Maldives. The Minister commended the programme’s role in empowering youth and expanding employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
As the first international hospitality brand to collaborate directly with the government on such a programme, Marriott International has positioned itself as a key contributor to local workforce development. The curriculum covered operations in departments including front office, culinary, housekeeping, and food and beverage.
Marriott said the success of the second cohort signifies its long-term commitment to professional development and capacity building in the Maldives, aligning with its global philosophy of placing people first. The programme is expected to continue as part of broader efforts to strengthen the domestic talent pipeline in the hospitality industry.
