IHG opened of its first IHG Academy programme in Italy, through a collaboration with InterContinental De La Ville Rome and UET Italy, the European University for Tourism.

The IHG Academy is a global network of educational and community organisations allied with local IHG-branded hotels or corporate offices to provide hospitality skills development and improved employability to the community and to drive economic growth. Through training and mentoring, the IHG Academy has assisted over 10,000 people worldwide in becoming skilled hospitality workers and achieving their professional goals in the hospitality field.

InterContinental De La Ville Rome General Manager Ciro Verrocchi said the establishment of the Academy in Italy demonstrated IHG's commitment to investing in the skills development of local talent in the region.

"The IHG Academy will deliver international-standard hospitality training,  provide practical first hand work experience opportunities for students and  create a hospitality talent pipeline in Italy.  Students on the programme will learn first hand what lies at the centre of great hotels guests love and the skills that are needed to deliver the high levels of service we provide for all of our guests.  Once they've graduated, they'll take what they've learnt and put it into practice providing world class service at IHG hotels."

Students on the IHG Academy in Italy will undertake four months of lessons at UET Italy, European University for Tourism in Rome, followed by a six month internship at InterContinental De La Ville Rome, where they will receive real-worLd hospitality training supported the team of managers and department heads at InterContinental De La Ville Rome. Successful students will graduate at the end of 10 months with a Masters in Hotel Management.