KKU Signs Two Key Agreements in Tourism and Hospitality within the Tourise Forum 2025 Programs - King Khalid University

Within the program of the Tourise Forum 2025, held in Riyadh under the generous patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, King Khalid University, with the supervision of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Aseer Region and Chairman of its Development Authority, signed two key agreements aimed at supporting tourism development and promoting the sustainability of human and community resources in the region.

The signing took place recently, attended by the University Vice President for Educational Affairs, Prof. Saad bin Mohammed bin Dajam. Dr. Reham Mahmoud Mashat, Dean of the College of Tourism and Hospitality, represented the university in the signing. Mr. Tapan Peplani, CEO, represented Valor Hospitality Gulf Limited, and Mr. Maher Abu Nasr, General Manager, represented the Administrative Arab InterContinental Hotels Group. This aligns with the university's role as a key partner in the system of regional and sustainable tourism development.

The cooperation agreement with Valor Company includes the implementation of qualitative programs to qualify human resources in the tourism and hospitality sectors. This encompasses practical training for university students in the company's hotels, organizing professional workshops and lectures, and conducting joint applied research on innovation in the hospitality and tourism fields, along with employment programs and field experience exchange that contribute to developing students' skills and enhancing their readiness for the job market.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed with the InterContinental Hotels Group aims to enhance academic and professional cooperation between the two parties by providing practical and summer training opportunities for students of the College of Tourism and Hospitality in the hotel group's facilities, organizing workshops and lectures presented by the group's experts on the latest trends in the hospitality industry, and executing joint research projects aimed at developing the quality of hotel services and improving the guest experience. Additionally, it includes direct employment programs, field visit exchanges, and specialized training programs that grant accredited joint certificates in hotel management, tourism marketing, and customer service.

Dr. Reham Mahmoud Mashat, Dean of the College of Tourism and Hospitality, affirmed that these qualitative partnerships are an extension of the university's commitment to building strategic relations with leaders in the tourism and hospitality sectors locally and internationally. She noted that through these agreements, the college seeks to empower its students with field experiences and professional skills that align with the needs of the labor market and support the tourism development process in the Aseer region.

She added that this step is part of the Aseer Region and the university's strategy to expand its institutional partnerships with leading local and international entities, and to transform academic knowledge into development projects that enrich the community and support the region's economy, in light of the accelerated tourism and development activity the region is witnessing under the umbrella of the "Peaks and Values" strategy for Aseer.