Hilton Worldwide has been recognized for its outstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility at the inaugural CSR Awards Saudi Arabia 2014.

The global hospitality company’s investment in young people’s life and professional skills in Saudi Arabia was recognized with the education improvement award.

“This award is truly an honor as it showcases efforts that we believe will have positive repercussions in our aim to employ and train young people across our Hilton Worldwide portfolio in the Kingdom.” said Mahmoud Mokhtar, VP operations, KSA for Hilton Worldwide.

“We currently have 31 hotels either operating or under development across the country and this award underscores our efforts in providing opportunity in the hospitality industry as we grow our portfolio and create employment.”

With a focus on improving the employability of the Saudi youth, Hilton Worldwide’s career and development programs support its global commitment to open doors to at least one million young people by 2019, the year of Hilton’s centennial anniversary.

Hilton Worldwide aims to do so by connecting them to the hospitality industry, developing their skills to be successful professionals, and by offering employment to candidates across its operations.

The company’s investment in young people in KSA builds on Travel with Purpose, Hilton Worldwide’s global corporate responsibility strategy to create shared value in the communities in which it operates. It brings together a range of existing programs and company resources around the world that connect, prepare and engage young people.

Targeting KSA young people who want to enter the hospitality industry, Passport to Success launched in June 2013 with pilot programs in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Jeddah. The 90 participants of the initial Passport to Success program received training in four key areas, all designed to complement individual’s previous educational experience