In December 2014, Mark Spiers (PADI Vice President, Sales, Field Services, Marketing & Business Development), Teo Brambilla (PADI Regional Manager), Ahmed Sayed (PADI Product Consultant) and Rich Somerset (Manager, Training and Quality Management) conducted a joint trip to Saudi Arabia.
The trip included a series of events and activities designed to provide support to the Arab market and Arabic Instructors and to communicate how important these key markets are to PADI.
During a Course Director round table event, PADI Course Directors were updated on the state of the market as well as latest PADI trends and training materials, including the upcoming launch of PADI Digital Products as part of PADI’s lead in the scuba industry’s digital revolution.
Member Forums took place in both Tabouk and Jeddah and were delivered in Arabic by Ahmed Sayed. 130 PADI Members attended across the two locations and covered the latest news about the launch of PADI Digital Products (due to launch shortly for both touch and online platforms), and PADI’s market share in comparison with competitors as part of the ‘Win with PADI’ value proposition. A separate, informal Member Forum was provided in English for a small group of PADI Members who were non-Arabic speakers.
At both Member Forum events, a Training and Quality Management (TQM) seminar provided an explanation of the Quality Management process, and the way that the Training department can support PADI members in their day to day work. A review of paperwork management for freelance PADI Instructors was also well-received.
It was announced during the trip that the PADI.com website, along with a number of additional training materials, would be translated into the Arabic language. Before heading home, the Member Forum participants were each given a pair of PADI sunglasses and key-ring as well as a PADI USB stick containing a wealth of useful resources in the Arabic language: PADI posters, the Win with PADI / Member Guides, “How To” Guides including how to find forms, complete purchases and PIC Online etc., plus a guide to the different PADI EMEA departments and who to contact for assistance.
“It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to visit Saudi Arabia and meet with PADI Members there. This is a very important market for PADI and this is reflected in the number of materials that we will be translating into Arabic over the coming months. This includes a dedicated web site, and PADI App, as well as our course materials. I look forward to coming back very soon” – Mark Spiers, PADI Vice President, Sales, Field Services, Marketing & Business Development.
Find more information about the new PADI Digital Product Suite and download the new brochure here.
