In a world where the unemployment levels for young people are three times higher than the figure for adults, investment into underserved communities has never been more important.
Disproportionate levels of young people without access to education or employment is driven by lack of opportunity. For many young people, leaving education represents the start of a journey into a lifelong career, however some do not have this luxury, and are met by closed doors.
RiseHY, Hyatt’s global signature program designed to connect 10,000 Opportunity Youth to careers in hospitality by 2025, was founded with an ambition to open these doors. We are working to bridge the gap between those disconnected from the economy by lack of education and employment, and the resources they need to kickstart a fulfilling career.
Travel and tourism provides 1 in 10 jobs globally, meaning as a sector, and with Hyatt a leading player, we’re ideally positioned to become part of the solution. Through partnerships with community-based organisations, we are reaching the people who need it most, introducing them to the world of hospitality and helping them to excel.
The community-based partnerships on which we rely to bring RiseHY to life include The Prince’s Trust, which helps young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn; and Education for Employment (EFE), which helps equip young women and men with the skills they need in today’s job market and link them to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities where they can succeed in a series of locations including Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
On a global scale, we have already supported more than 6,150 people into their career, including 940 in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME) alone. This includes a whole host of different roles, from housekeeping, to waitering, to even working alongside our world-renowned chefs in the kitchen. We know that every one of our RiseHY participants has a unique set of strengths, and are doing everything we can to set them up for success.
For us, supporting young people into work is not the full story. By providing training, coaching, mentorship and a supportive network of peers, we are laser focused on equipping each hire with the resources and skills they need to continue on in a long, successful career in hospitality.
Since the launch of RiseHY in 2018, it’s incredible to see that more than 140 participants across Europe, Africa and the Middle East have benefitted from lateral moves, promotions or transfers, with retention rates exceeding 42%.
While the hospitality sector as a whole is experiencing labour shortages and turnover challenges, it is particularly vital that we continue to foster young talent, providing the mentorship and training that enables young people need to go far in a fulfilling career in hospitality.
“I love the people with Hyatt. I’ve always felt like I can go to any and every one for advice. I was hired through Urban Alliance and I always felt welcomed when I became a Bell Attendant position at the Chicago Athletic Association. I was promoted to Front Office Host 11 months after. I feel like everyone on the team was also very supportive when I took some classes last year and were very accommodating with my schedule.” – Osayi, Chicago Athletic Association, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Guest Services
With a goal to hire 10,000 young people from under-resourced communities by 2025, we remain focused on this commitment. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact of reliable mentorship on young people, and with this core to our purpose of the RiseHY programme, I have no doubt of its continued positive impact on the lives of young people globally. We’re proud to be able to leverage Hyatt’s influence and resources to make a real difference.
Top tips for applying:
1. Don’t worry about your experience, we’re more interested in your attitude
2. Make use of the Opportunity Youth marker, available on Hyatt’s career website 3. Don’t be afraid to try something new
For more information, visit https://about.hyatt.com/en/risehy.html, or email risehy@hyatt.com.
Explore and learn more about roles available in the world of hospitality through the virtual reality experience tool available: visit the VR Experience.
1- International Labour Organization: https://www.ilo.org/publications/flagship-reports/world-employment-and-social-outlook-trends-2024 2-World Travel and Tourism Council: https://wttc.org/research/economic-impact
