Etijah awarded top global prize for sustainable hospitality employability programme

At Terra, Expo City Dubai, the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025 ceremony brought hundreds of industry leaders together, producing a notable uptick in demand for airport transfers, local taxis and on-demand shuttle services during the event—precisely the kind of operational pressure that highlights the value of targeted hospitality training and workforce development.

Award recognition and what it signifies

The Youth & Development Consultancy Institute – Etijah was named World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme 2025 for its Employability Programme in the Hospitality Sector. The prize was presented amid global leaders in sustainable tourism, underlining the programme’s role in preparing skilled staff for hospitality operations from front-desk to airport transfer coordination.

Origins, scale and reach

Founded in 2006 in Cairo, Etijah operates as a non-profit devoted to youth empowerment and social equity. The organisation’s guidance—rooted in community development and participatory approaches—has reached more than 80,000 people across all 27 governorates of Egypt in 2024, with special emphasis on women, refugees and persons with disabilities.

Programme components at a glance

• Technical training: hospitality operations, front-of-house, and guest relations skills relevant to hotels and transfer services.
• Livelihoods: job placement, microenterprise support and links with local transport companies.
• Inclusion: accessibility training and tailored pathways for marginalised groups.
• Climate and community action: practices that reduce environmental impact in tourism and transport.

Operational impacts on transfers and taxi services

Skilled hospitality graduates influence the entire guest journey: clearer communication at airport pick-ups, faster check-ins that reduce taxi wait times, and improved coordination between hotels and transfer providers. For taxi and transfer operators, this translates into more predictable fare flows, optimized vehicle routing, and higher service standards—factors that matter when a city hosts international events.

Industry response and partnership dynamics

The awards programme, run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, recognised Etijah’s combination of innovation and community-rooted practice. Leadership from the Alliance highlighted how sustainable training contributes to a “Net Positive Hospitality” future—an outcome that encompasses responsible guest transport and last-mile mobility solutions.

Why this matters for travellers and local operators

At a glance, hospitality training translates into tangible improvements for travellers: cleaner, safer vehicles; drivers and staff with better customer service skills; and more accurate coordination between hotels, airports and transfer firms. For local operators, the programme’s graduates represent potential hires who already understand guest expectations and compliance requirements such as licensing and accessibility protocols.

How transfer companies can leverage graduates

• Recruit for dispatcher and guest-relations roles to reduce miscommunication and no-shows.
• Partner on joint training modules to align service standards (e.g., luggage handling, accessibility seating).
• Use certified graduates in marketing to signal higher-quality, reliable taxi and transfer options.

Etijah’s achievement reinforces that education and practical skills are central to sustainable tourism growth. The organisation’s model—blending local knowledge with scalable training—creates a pipeline of talent that benefits hotels, transfer companies and city transport ecosystems alike.

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