Author(s): Amnaha. A. Alasgah, Haifa H. Alshammari
The paper aimed to assess the training needs of Saudi women working in tourist hotels “Reception,” an emerging field in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study sample included (87) Saudi women who work in (32) hotels of (3 to 5 stars category), in the regions of (Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Makkah). The study found three types of training needs for Saudi women in the sector: cognitive needs (hotel management, hotel reservation applications, total quality management in the hospitality sector, and individual and group reception protocols); skill needs; (public relations and protocol, managing reception offices, technology use, and guest complaints management skills); and value needs (dealing with tourists, reception offices management, and teamwork values). The study recommended planning training for Saudi women according to the priority areas identified when assessing their training needs. The training plan includes precedents related to knowledge, skills, and tourism values throughout training. It is followed by advanced training in the field to enhance the opportunities Saudi women have available to them and improve their performance to reach the desired level of effectiveness and efficiency.