Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (DUBAI)
Abu Dhabi’s expanding tourism, sports and events sectors are creating broader career opportunities for young professionals beyond traditional hospitality roles, according to Georgette Davey, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy (ADHA) – Les Roches.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Davey said that the hospitality sector in Abu Dhabi extends far beyond hotels, with a range of related industries growing rapidly. These include theme parks, museums and events, which are changing how hospitality education prepares students for the labour market.
One area that is expanding rapidly is sports and event management, she said, as Abu Dhabi’s calendar includes major international sports events such as Formula 1, and the UFC, among others.
Davey stressed that the employment impact extends well beyond the days on which those events take place. “It is not only the week of the event, but also the period leading up to it that is critical,” Davey said.
She said the wider ecosystem around sports and events creates permanent roles for professionals who understand the commercial, operational and customer-facing aspects of the sector.
That includes not only high-profile international events, but also community sporting activities taking place throughout the year. “There are community sporting events that are taking place every week of the year,” Davey said, noting that the sector needs people who understand sport, are passionate about it and can help drive its development over the longer term.
ADHA launched a Master of Science in Sports Management and Events this month, with 17 students currently enrolled, including people considering a career change and others who see long-term opportunity in the UAE’s sports and events industry.
Davey said the programme reflects the broader growth of the sector in Abu Dhabi and the UAE as whole.
She also emphasised that those entering sports, events or hospitality, technical knowledge alone is not enough. Future professionals need a combination of business understanding, leadership capabilities and soft skills, along with the ability to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
A strong business mindset is also central, she said that students need to understand the commercial foundations behind sports management, events and hospitality while recognising that the customer experience remains fundamental. Technology is also changing how students need to prepare for careers in hospitality and events, she added.
Davey said artificial intelligence is likely to make operations more efficient and reduce some of the burden of repetitive tasks, but she does not expect it to replace the human side of the industry. “I think that is the wonderful thing about the world of hospitality, sports and event management. It’s a people-focused business,” she explained.
Looking ahead to the winter tourism season, Davey said Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE are positioned for further growth. She pointed to the continued expansion of tourism sector under the emirate’s 2030 ambitions with visitor numbers expected to keep rising.
Among the traveller segments showing the strongest momentum, she said business travel is currently the leading segment, while the staycation market is also growing significantly. She said this broader tourism economy should encourage students and young professionals to think beyond conventional definitions of hospitality.
For anyone considering a career in the sector, she said, the industry offers a widening range of possibilities.
With more projects and attractions expected in the years ahead, such as Disneyland, now is the time for young people to build the skills needed to take advantage of those opportunities as they emerge, she added.
