CSR column: Rotana's Kinan Al Gharoui

Villa Rotana, Rihab Rotana and Rimal Rotana general manager Kinan Al Ghraoui tells Hotelier about the hotels’ partnership with RPTC in Dubai

Tell us about your partnership with Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre?
In 2009 Villa Rotana, Rihab Rotana and Rimal Rotana launched with Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre a programme with an aim to open the door to specialised training for students with special needs.

Each year, the project welcomes between three and six Rashid Centre students in each hotel to receive six to eight months of training under the supervision of the Centre’s social assistance cell and the human resource department of the hotels. The training is practical and technical in different departments, such as F&B or human resources.

Are any students employed by the hotels after the training?
After the completion of the training programme graduates gain valuable skills, interact with colleagues and discover new capabilities inherent in them and we are keen to welcome more trainees joining our team.

How has the initiative grown over the years?
This initiative has a positive impact for Rashid Centre students and their families. Many students are waiting to graduate and start the training programme with us. The most important part here is that parents start realising that their children can overcome various disabilities and play an effective role in society as productive members.