Embracing equity: Hyatt champions women across Mideast

Embracing equity: Hyatt  champions women across Mideast
With 29 branded properties in the Middle East, Hyatt is committed to championing women across different roles within the region, including those of leadership.
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Updated 19 March 2023

Embracing equity: Hyatt champions women across Mideast

Embracing equity: Hyatt  champions women across Mideast

Empowering women to fulfill their full potential is a vital part of Hyatt’s strategy for talent growth and success. 

Hyatt has launched two pioneering initiatives including [email protected], a globally dedicated diversity business resource group, and the Inspirit Mentorship Program, created exclusively in the EMEA region, to support female colleagues to feel a sense of belonging and be inspired in their daily roles. Now in its sixth year in EMEA, [email protected] supports Hyatt’s regional diversity, equity and inclusion mission through cultivating and maintaining an active network, fostering a culture that supports a gender-diverse and inclusive workplace and supporting the needs and advancement of women at Hyatt. 

With 29 branded properties in the Middle East, Hyatt is committed to championing women across different roles within the region, including those of leadership and setting a benchmark across the industry.

The company’s purpose is to care for people so they can be their best, which is reflected in Hyatt’s 2025 DE&I goals, setting out three main areas to accelerate the organization’s progress toward advancing diversity and inclusion efforts. This includes doubling the representation of women in senior management roles at Hyatt, across the region and globally. 

Katrin Melle, regional vice president of DEI and talent, Europe Middle East and Africa, Hyatt, said: “It is truly inspiring to see the growth of [email protected] and the Inspirit Mentorship Program across the EMEA region. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of Hyatt’s values, and I’m proud that our teams bring our commitment to life, continuously working together to embrace equity and empower female leadership growth at Hyatt.” 

[email protected]

[email protected] is a global initiative designed to accelerate and increase professional growth opportunities for female employees at Hyatt. Founded in 2012, the initiative has seen significant growth in activity during 2022-2023 in the EMEA region. At present, there are six active “chapters” in the region including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, spearheaded by female employees with many male allies. [email protected] chapters are country-based, city-based, or functional focused networking groups supporting women and are based on voluntary formation and participation. 

The goal of the program is to foster a culture that promotes professional and personal growth opportunities for women.

Britta Leick-Milde is the general manager of Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai. She is an active mentor in the Inspirit Mentorship Program and a participant in [email protected], through which she has introduced new initiatives and resources for female staff, including extended maternity and paternity leave options to provide new parents with ample bonding time with their children. 

Inspirit Mentorship Program

A core component of [email protected] in EMEA is the Inspirit Mentorship Program, a bespoke mentoring program for female employees at Hyatt in the region. The program was launched in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi at the end of 2022, with Jordan launching soon. Currently, there are 18 colleagues from the Middle East in the regionally run Inspirit Program for female leaders.

Ruba Taha is the director of marketing and communications at Grand Hyatt Amman in Jordan. An award-winning hospitality professional, Taha is also the chapter chair for [email protected] in Jordan. One of her main achievements is to apply for menstrual leave as an official monthly two-day off for the women working in Grand Hyatt Amman. The hotel team also received a 2022 award from the UN Women’s Women’s Empowerment Principles program for their best practices, recognizing all their efforts made toward women’s empowerment.


Bupa Arabia opens office in Riyadh’s financial district

Bupa Arabia opens office in Riyadh’s financial district
Updated 10 June 2023

Bupa Arabia opens office in Riyadh’s financial district

Bupa Arabia opens office in Riyadh’s financial district

Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance — a leading health insurance provider in the Kingdom — opened its new headquarters in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

The new location is part of the company’s expansion plan in the central region and efforts to support the development of the Saudi insurance sector. Bupa Arabia’s outstanding healthcare services being provided to millions of customers align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, which focus on improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. The new office is also in line with the company’s strategic vision.

Strategically located in the heart of the financial district, the new Bupa Arabia location combines modern facilities and innovative designs to create a work environment that fosters productivity, innovation and service excellence. The state-of-the-art office space showcases the company’s dedication to providing an ideal workplace for its employees.

The office houses a well-equipped canteen offering a range of delectable food items and beverages, ensuring employees have a great time during their break. Taking care of employees’ work-life balance, Bupa Arabia has incorporated a daycare center within the premises, catering to the needs of employees’ children. It also has a Bupa Lounge offering a welcoming space for employees and visitors.

Tal Nazer, CEO of Bupa Arabia, said: “Bupa Arabia strongly believes in remaining close to its customers, delivering the best services to them and providing innovative insurance products in the Kingdom, based on global best practices and experiences.”

Nazer added: “The opening of Bupa Arabia’s new headquarters represents a new step in our commitment to ensuring the future of the Saudi insurance sector and reaffirms our leading position in the industry. It reflects our journey of success within the Kingdom, driven by our efforts to provide the highest levels of innovation in products, services, campaigns and awareness events, as well as digital solutions that have greatly facilitated services and increased productivity.”

“We are striving to provide the best work environment for the Bupa Arabia team, in line with our efforts to enhance employee productivity through training, work experiences and innovative tools. We aim to enhance their skills and capabilities, achieve better integration between their personal and professional lives, enabling them to deliver their best to our customers,” he said.

Bupa Arabia has played a pivotal role in the digital transformation of the Saudi insurance sector. 

As one of the first insurance companies to prioritize digitization, it established a dedicated department for digital transformation in 2018, which designed strategies to enhance healthcare services benefitting more than 3 million customers. This has contributed to enhancing the customer experience as well as to the growth of the health insurance sector in the Kingdom.


Saudia Cargo wins ‘Best Digital Customer Experience’ award

Saudia Cargo wins ‘Best Digital Customer Experience’ award
Updated 10 June 2023

Saudia Cargo wins ‘Best Digital Customer Experience’ award

Saudia Cargo wins ‘Best Digital Customer Experience’ award

Saudia Cargo, the leading air cargo carrier in the Middle East, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by being awarded the prestigious title of “Best Digital Customer Experience” at the renowned Customer Experience Middle East 2023 conference, held in Dubai. With representatives from prominent companies across various industries in the region, this year’s edition witnessed the organization of several workshops and continuous discussion sessions that addressed key communication mechanisms and digital advancements in customer service.

Teddy Zebitz, CEO of Saudia Cargo, expressed his joy at achieving this accomplishment, describing it as a motivation to continue the company’s endeavors in developing its digital system for customer service and ensuring the best customer experience. He emphasized the utilization of advanced technologies and pioneering digital solutions to sustain the company’s business growth. Zebitz also highlighted the importance of monitoring customer feedback as the ultimate measure of success for their global operations, with a focus on incorporating the latest technologies and adopting global best practices to achieve the company’s goals and aspirations. Additionally, he also noted that the business environment in the Kingdom has become highly conducive to digital transformation with ongoing enhancement of comprehensive experiences.

Mansour Alasmi, vice president of network and revenue management at Saudia Cargo, said: “We strive for the integration of our digital services and keeping pace with transformational phases by establishing effective partnerships in this regard. These partnerships enhance our interactions across all digital channels by utilizing information technology and initiatives to accelerate growth and customer-focused innovation for delivering positive experiences. Saudia Cargo will continue its efforts to enhance its capabilities, provide unparalleled digital experiences, and establish new standards for customer service excellence.”

Saudia Cargo recently renewed its agreement with Cainiao, the logistics arm of the global Alibaba platform. The partnership aims to transport shipments from leading e-commerce retailers, reserving exclusively selected SACC freighter flights from Hong Kong to Riyadh and the Belgian city of Liège.

Saudia Cargo’s aspirations to become a global logistics platform, connecting global markets with the Kingdom and leveraging its strategic geographical location at the heart of global trade routes, align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

The company continues to support emerging markets as a member of the SkyTeam Cargo Alliance, representing 20 percent of the air cargo movement. 

Additionally, it benefits directly from the international coverage provided by the alliance, which connects more than 175 countries worldwide.


Epson makes additional investment in space robotics development startup GITAI

Epson makes additional investment in space robotics development startup GITAI
Updated 10 June 2023

Epson makes additional investment in space robotics development startup GITAI

Epson makes additional investment in space robotics development startup GITAI

Seiko Epson Corporation and its subsidiary Epson X Investment Corporation recently made an additional investment in GITAI Japan Inc., a startup company that develops general-purpose space robots. The investment was made through their EP-GB Investment Limited Partnership.

Originating in Japan, GITAI is a startup that envisions providing safe and affordable labor in space. Their goal is to develop and sell versatile space robots that will serve as a workforce for tasks both inside and outside space stations, in Earth’s orbit, as well as on the Moon and Mars. Additionally, they aim to provide services in space.

With the acceleration of space development, including lunar resource development, Mars exploration, and the commercialization of the International Space Station, a rapid increase in various types of work within space is anticipated, such as the construction of new space stations, lunar bases and Mars bases. This work is potentially dangerous and is currently being performed by astronauts, who must be trained and transported at tremendous expense.

GITAI is developing general-purpose robots that can significantly reduce the risk and burden on astronauts while also dramatically reducing the overall cost of transportation and training associated with space labor. By doing so, GITAI aims to make space exploration and development both safe and affordable. Since 2021, they have been steadily building a strong track record by developing lunar work robots and extravehicular robots, as well as by successfully completing on-board experiments using demonstration models on the ISS.

“The timing of this new Epson investment into the development of space robots coincides with increased space exploration by both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including the first Saudi woman astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to visit the ISS, where Emirati astronaut Sultan Alneyadi recently completed a space walk,” said Jason McMillian, sales director, Epson Middle East. “Our focus on research and innovation in space robot technology can be beneficial for the GCC and other nations investing in future exploration.”

As outlined in the Epson 25 Renewed corporate vision, Epson aims to drive manufacturing innovation by co-creating flexible, high-throughput production systems that reduce environmental impacts. GITAI’s space robot technology has potential applications in Epson’s robotics business and has proven to be competitive in the expanding space business market.

The company continues to forge growth with its strong technical and organization capabilities. Recognizing its impressive track record and the significant technological advancements it has achieved, Epson decided to follow up its initial investment in 2021 with this additional investment.


McDonald’s highlights commitment to food quality on World Food Safety Day

McDonald’s highlights commitment to food quality on World Food Safety Day
Updated 09 June 2023

McDonald’s highlights commitment to food quality on World Food Safety Day

McDonald’s highlights commitment to food quality on World Food Safety Day

On World Food Safety Day, McDonald’s Saudi Arabia in the western and southern region — Reza Food Services Co. Ltd. reaffirmed its dedication to upholding the highest standards of food safety across its restaurants. As a leader in the quick-service restaurants industry, McDonald’s places the utmost importance on ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of its customers by adhering to rigorous practices, from cooking procedures and kitchen hygiene to supplier standards.

Food safety lies at the core of McDonald’s operations, and the company maintains exceptional quality and safety in every aspect of its business. McDonald’s follows a comprehensive set of hygiene procedures, including:

  • Proper hygienic dress code: All employees adhere to a strict dress code that ensures safety in the kitchen. Hairnets are worn at all times, and employees avoid wearing jewelry or watches.
  • Regular hand washing: All kitchen staff must wash their hands regularly with soap and dry them with disposable paper towels to prevent bacterial contamination.
  • Color-coded glove system: McDonald’s implements a color-coded glove system to avoid cross-contamination. Blue gloves are used for raw materials, while clear gloves are used for everything except raw meat. Employees change and dispose of gloves frequently.
  • Maintaining cleanliness: Ensuring cleanliness in every area is of utmost importance. Counters are regularly cleaned and disinfected, and machines undergo daily cleaning to prevent bacterial buildup. Thorough deep cleaning of machines occurs at least once a week, where parts are disassembled, cleaned, and sanitized.
  • McDonald’s places great emphasis on sourcing high-quality ingredients and works exclusively with suppliers who share its commitment to food safety. Stringent guidelines and quality assurance protocols are established to ensure suppliers adhere to the highest industry standards.

The company maintains strict processes for raw food supplier standards, guaranteeing quality and safety through:

  • Stringent inspections: McDonald’s conducts frequent inspections and quality checks before receiving products to ensure the highest standards are met.
  • Freezing and traceability: Raw products are packaged, frozen at -18°C, and stored with traceable codes to enable batch tracking, even during transportation.
  • Fresh produce standards: McDonald’s sources fresh produce grown and certified by recognized bodies. Suppliers undergo frequent inspections to monitor water quality, and produce is thoroughly sanitized before leaving their facilities.
  • Cooking temperatures: McDonald’s adheres to local municipality regulations and the highest standards for cooking procedures and safe minimum internal temperatures for all protein products, ensuring optimal food safety.

In terms of kitchen organization, McDonald’s maintains separation and uses different cutleries and boards for different product categories. Meat, poultry and fish are separated from fresh and frozen produce. Gloves and waste bins are kept within reach of cooks for easy access and optimal hygiene practices.

“As World Food Safety Day brings global attention to the importance of food safety, McDonald’s Saudi Arabia in the western and southern region reaffirms its commitment to providing customers with safe, high-quality food. With unwavering dedication, McDonald’s remains at the forefront of the industry, delivering an unparalleled experience while prioritizing customer well-being,” a press release said.

McDonald’s believes in establishing transparent communication with its customers by providing specific information about its menu, including dietary and nutritional information, sourcing details, and behind-the-scenes processes. Customers can visit www.yourrighttoknow.com for information about McDonald’s food.

 


King Abdullah Port records highest ever volume on single vessel

King Abdullah Port records highest ever volume on single vessel
Updated 07 June 2023

King Abdullah Port records highest ever volume on single vessel

King Abdullah Port records highest ever volume on single vessel

King Abdullah Port, the most efficient port according to the World Bank 2022 report, has recorded the highest handling volume on a single vessel call in Saudi ports. The port handled 20,152 TEUs within 77.46 hours of operation on the MSC Renee. This achievement comes as a testimony to its highly efficient and outstanding capabilities.

Commenting on the achievement, Jay New, CEO of King Abdullah Port, said: “Since the launch of our container terminal in 2013, we have relentlessly pursued excellence in our service offerings through the development of world-class infrastructure and port facilities. These efforts have resulted in impressive milestones as we drive toward the realization of Vision 2030 objectives. King Abdullah Port’s growing significance has built trust and support from our partners and together we are providing excellence to the wide base of importers and exporters benefiting from the port’s capabilities.

“We thank our partners and our employees behind all these achievements for their dedication and hardwork. One of the Middle East’s largest infrastructure megaprojects, King Abdullah Port has been built to the latest specifications and standards and is designed to support trade and economic growth in the Kingdom for decades to come. The port is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including the world’s largest and most advanced cranes, and its 18-meter water berths are the world’s deepest.”

Owned by the Ports Development Company, King Abdullah Port is the region’s first port to be owned, developed, and operated by the private sector. Ranked as the world’s most efficient port by the World Bank in 2022, the port emerged as one of the world’s top 100 ports within four years of operation. With its strategic location in King Abdullah Economic City — a modern city with a pro-business ecosystem and infrastructure — King Abdullah Port leverages the city’s advanced facilities and services, particularly the Industrial Valley, which has attracted many logistics projects as well as light and medium industries.

Occupying an area of 17.4 square kilometers, and enjoying close proximity to the key Saudi cities of Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Yanbu, as well as its direct access to extensive transportation networks that facilitates cargo transport through the Kingdom and the rest of the region, the port is making an increasingly important contribution to the Kingdom’s global role in maritime trade and logistics. Once fully completed, King Abdullah Port will be capable of handling 25 million TEU, 1.5 million CEU and 25 million tons of clean bulk cargo annually.

With state-of-the-art infrastructure and processing facilities, the world’s deepest 18-meter berths, multi-level expanding operations, in addition to a fully integrated port community system, the smart gate system and multipurpose bonded and re-export zones, King Abdullah Port reflects the important role of the private sector in realizing Vision 2030.