Aya
From Al-Salt to Chef, Grand Hyatt Amman
Aya’s culinary journey began at the Vocational Training Center in Al-Salt, Jordan in 2007. After seeing several advertisements around her community, Aya quickly became interested in joining the Vocational Training Center. She wanted to take the road less traveled and embark on a journey that was different from the path her friends had chosen.
Aya’s family was very understanding and supportive of her decision to join the training program since her brother studied hospitality, they were familiar with what it takes to be a part of the hospitality world. With her family’s blessing, she began her studies in a program that was close to home.
At the Vocational Training Center Aya was introduced to the fundamentals of the hospitality industry. She trained on a variety of skills ranging from, the importance of each cutting board’s color and when to use them, to how to interact with guests. She gained a vast amount of knowledge and learned the true meaning of what it takes to work in a hotel.
After the education portion of her training program, Aya needed to enroll in a cross-training internship at a four or five-star hotel in the kingdom. Grand Hyatt Amman offered her an opportunity to train in the housekeeping department, where she worked for three months before transitioning to the culinary department.
Once her two-year training program was complete, Aya decided to explore an opportunity at a different hotel and took a position as a Commis 2. She quickly learned her new work environment did not compare to what was offered at the Grand Hyatt Amman. So after one year of service, she resigned from the hotel in order to rejoin the Grand Hyatt Amman family as a Commis 2. Within two years she received her first promotion to become a Commis 1. Aya’s hard work, dedication, and love of the hotel industry didn’t stop there! Three years later, she earned herself another promotion as a Demi-Chef de Partie in the Events Kitchen— making her the youngest female Demi Chef de Partie on the property.
To Chef Aya, being part of the Grand Hyatt Amman family means more than just having a unique job and standing out from the crowd. She believes that she is part of the best culinary department in the kingdom, and has a team that has helped her evolve into the female leader that she is. At Grand Hyatt Amman, Aya is in an environment where she can truly shine while climbing the ladder of success. Chef Aya is an inspiration to all young female chefs who dare to be different.
