Etijah named top sustainable training programme 2026
Alexandra
Placement of more than 80,000 people across all 27 governorates in 2024 strengthened hospitality supply chains and created a measurable pipeline of trained staff for hotels, marinas and charter operators along Egypt’s coasts and inland waterways.
Recognition and reach: the headline numbers
The Youth & Development Consultancy Institute – Etijah was presented with the title World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme 2025 for its Employability Programme in the Hospitality Sector at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards ceremony in Dubai. The award ceremony took place at Terra, Expo City Dubai, with hundreds of sustainable tourism leaders in attendance.
Why logistics and workforce matter to boating and charter operations
Training that focuses on employability, inclusion and practical skills feeds directly into seasonal and year-round staffing needs for the yachting and boating industries. Marinas, charter companies and superyacht crews depend on a steady flow of trained front-of-house staff, deckhands, chefs and hospitality managers. Etijah’s emphasis on market-relevant skills reduces recruitment friction, shortens onboarding time, and improves service quality for charter operators renting yachts and boats in busy Destinations and clearwater marinas.
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Programme model and operational pillars
Etijah blends community-rooted methods with scalable training modules. The approach hinges on three operational pillars that make it deployable across urban and coastal supply chains:
- Asset-based community development — builds on local skills and resources to create sustainable jobs.
- Participatory training — trainees co-design learning, yielding higher retention and quicker absorption into workforce roles like marina staff or guest relations on superyachts.
- Economic empowerment — links training to micro-enterprise and employment opportunities in hospitality and tourism supply chains, from beachside cafés to lake-side boating centres.
Outcomes at a glance
| Metric | 2024 Result | Relevance to Sailing/Boating |
|---|---|---|
| People reached | 80,000+ | Pool of potential crew, captains, and hospitality staff for charter fleets and marinas |
| Geographic coverage | All 27 governorates | Enables regional staffing for gulf coasts, inland lakes and tourist beaches |
| Focus groups | Women, refugees, persons with disabilities | Broadens talent pipeline for inclusive hiring in yacht, hotel and boating sectors |
Voices and verification
Programme leads highlighted that the work prioritises access and long-term impact. Elizabeth Pearson, Programme Analyst at Youth & Development Consultancy Institute – Etijah, noted the significance of space for non-profit organisations from the Global South to share practice and scale solutions. At the same event Glenn Mandziuk from the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Justin Cooke of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards praised the innovation and leadership shown by the programme.
How this shifts operational planning for charter companies
Operators in the yachting and boating market should see three practical effects: improved availability of trained seasonal staff, better diversity among hospitality teams, and stronger community relations where boats operate. For small boat rental businesses and larger players like superyacht managers, that translates to fewer last-minute hires, smoother guest experiences, and more predictable staffing costs during peak season.
Practical steps charter operators can take now
- Partner with local training centres to pre-screen candidates for deck and hospitality roles.
- Offer short apprenticeship programmes tied to marina and hotel partners.
- Support inclusive hiring by adapting roles for differently-abled candidates.
- Align scheduling and logistics with local transport and accommodation to reduce staff turnover.
Etijah’s model is not a silver bullet, but it’s a usable blueprint: target the right skills, work with communities, and build links to employment pathways. From a boating perspective, that kind of upstream investment in people makes renting a boat or chartering a yacht a more dependable experience for guests and operators alike—less spin of the wheel, more steady progress.
What to watch next
Expect organizations that emulate Etijah’s approach to focus on measurable outcomes tied to employment and sustainable tourism metrics. Partnerships between training institutes, marinas and charter operators could spawn certification pathways for crew and hospitality staff—think short training modules that lead to placement on boats, beach clubs, and hotels.
In short, Etijah’s award-winning approach demonstrates that community-led training can plug real gaps in hospitality and marine workforce supply chains. The programme’s reach, inclusive targets, and practical focus connect directly to the needs of yacht charters, boat rentals, marinas and coastal destinations. For anyone involved in sale or rent of yachts, charter operations, fishing excursions, or sunseeker-style leisure trips, this model points to a future where training, employment and tourism infrastructure grow hand in hand.
Wrap-up: Etijah’s Employability Programme earned global recognition and shows measurable impact—reaching over 80,000 people across 27 governorates—and offers a blueprint that benefits hotels, marinas and the yachting sector. The key takeaways: invest in community-rooted training, link skills to placement, and build partnerships across marinas, charter firms and hospitality operators to support sustainable growth for yacht and boat charter, beach activities, lake and ocean boating, captains and crews, and related sale and rent markets.
