The World Economic Forum has recognised Sommet Education as one of the inaugural Beyond Tourism Impact Stars, citing the group’s role in developing large-scale hospitality and culinary training as part of Saudi Arabia’s workforce expansion under Vision 2030.
An education partnership scaled for a national agenda
The award, announced at the Forum’s first Beyond Tourism Day in Geneva, highlights Sommet’s multi‑institution programme in Saudi Arabia. Between 2022 and 2026 the group, through its constituent schools Les Roches, Glion Institute of Higher Education and École Ducasse, has put in place an education and training ecosystem aimed at creating a national hospitality workforce.
Sommet’s activity in the Kingdom includes operational training, postgraduate and executive education, academic collaborations and investment in longer‑term educational infrastructure. The World Economic Forum singled out the initiative in the People and Skills category for its contribution to preparing talent for an expanding tourism sector.
Scale and scope: the numbers
Sommet reports substantial reach across its Saudi programmes. The known figures from the initiative are:
- Approximately 55,000 Saudi nationals trained across hospitality, tourism and culinary arts.
- 10,000 young people trained via the Tourism Trailblazers programme.
| Period | Activity | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| 2022–2026 | Comprehensive training ecosystem (operational, postgraduate, executive) | ~55,000 trained |
| 2022–2026 | Tourism Trailblazers programme | 10,000 young people |
Why this matters to the UK education sector
The recognition by an influential global forum draws attention to how specialist UK‑linked institutions can export vocational expertise and shape large national workforces. Les Roches, Glion and École Ducasse are internationally known names in hospitality and culinary education; their involvement demonstrates demand for structured, high‑quality vocational routes at scale.
For UK policymakers and educators, the project is a reminder that vocational and higher vocational provision is not just a domestic policy concern but also an exportable capability. Institutions that can combine practical training, management education and industry partnerships are positioned to influence international labour markets and public‑private workforce planning.
Programme features and partnerships
The Saudi strategy described by Sommet includes specialised programmes tailored to the Kingdom’s evolving tourism landscape and dedicated advanced courses to cultivate future hospitality leaders. The initiative also involves collaboration with the Boutique Group, pairing hospitality management expertise with culinary training to prepare talent for heritage and luxury hospitality offers.
At the Geneva event, Sommet’s chief executive, Spencer Coles, served as a co‑chair, joining more than 80 senior leaders from over 70 organisations to discuss resilience, workforce development, scalable impact and transforming visitor experiences — the four priorities the Forum identified as central to tourism’s future.
Potential consequences and questions
Such large‑scale international training raises practical questions for British education providers and government: how to ensure quality and accreditation across borders, how to protect the interests of UK students and staff involved in overseas programmes, and how to balance commercial partnerships with commitments to domestic provision. There is also a strategic dimension — countries investing heavily in tourism and hospitality skills will create new labour pools and leadership pipelines that could shift regional labour dynamics.
For students and teachers, the Sommet example underlines the value of vocational routes that link classroom learning to industry outcomes. For ministers and sector regulators, it underlines the need for clarity around cross‑border qualifications, quality assurance and the governance of education exports.
While the World Economic Forum accolade is a recognition of impact, it also reframes vocational education as a tool of international development and economic transformation — a trend UK education stakeholders will need to navigate carefully.
