The program will prepare as many as 600 Washington, DC residents for hotel careers.
WASHINGTON – Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, announced the launch of the Washington Marriott Marquis Jobs Training Program in collaboration with Goodwill of Greater Washington and a coalition of community-based organizations. This jobs-training initiative will prepare and train up to 600 District residents for jobs with the new Washington Marriott Marquis, scheduled to open in May 2014.
Goodwill of Greater Washington has been awarded this grant for workforce development and will lead this collaborative training effort with United Way of the National Capital Area, the University of the District of Columbia Community College, Progressive Partners, LLC, GROW LLC, the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning and other District-based organizations. The purpose of the grant is to select a workforce intermediary to recruit, prepare, train, and refer new hotel employees in cooperation with Marriott International, Inc.
“Through initiatives like the Washington Marriott Marquis Jobs Training Program, not only are we delivering jobs and economic development for the District, but we are inspiring and mentoring individuals with career and life-skills training,” said District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “These opportunities are priceless for our residents– helping individuals to kick start a new professional life, while reinventing a career in hospitality for others.”
The Washington Marriott Marquis jobs-training initiative will feature free comprehensive career and personal skills curriculum. Upon program completion, the Marriott Marquis will have a variety of hospitality job openings, ranging from front desk, cashiers, hosts and cooks to housekeeping, stewards, servers, security and more.
“Launching this jobs-training program creates a synergy between Events DC, Goodwill of Greater Washington, their community partners and the Washington Marriott Marquis – a team effort that will drive the creation of job opportunities and lasting economic benefits for the District and its residents,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and CEO of Events DC. “We eagerly look forward to the opening of the Washington Marriott Marquis. The hotel’s impact will extend beyond the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, to residents across all corners of the city, ultimately raising the profile of Washington, DC as destination.”
“Goodwill of Greater Washington is honored to have been selected by Events DC to lead the administration and execution of this jobs-training program for the Washington Marriott Marquis, with the outcome being career-entry positions for residents of the District of Columbia,” said Catherine Meloy, president and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington. “All of the program partners will be joined by many other community non-profits to help recruit, train and place the most qualified staff at the new Convention Center hotel. Events DC and Marriott International, Inc. had a vision for the Washington Marriott Marquis to be a hotel for the city, serviced by people of the city. How fortunate we all are to play a part in creating the reality of this vision.”
Scheduled to open in May 2014, the 1,175-room, 49-suite Washington Marriott Marquis at 901 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, will complement the adjacent Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Recruitment for the Washington Marriott Marquis Jobs Training Program will open on Thursday, August 29. Following enrollment, the Jobs Training Program will begin in December 2013 and end in late March 2014.
Photo caption (from left to right): Rosie Allen-Herring, CEO, United Way of the National Capital Area, Catherine Meloy, President & CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington, Dan Nadeau, General Manager of Washington Marriott Marquis, Councilmember Vincent Orange, Councilmember Jack Evans, Councilmember Marion Barry, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Lisa Mallory, Department of Employment Services, John Boardman, Events DC Board of Directors, Michelle V. Hagans, Chairman, Events DC Board of Directors, Greg O’Dell, President & CEO of Events DC, Linda Greenan, Events DC Board of Directors. (PRNewsFoto/Events DC).
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
