New Program to Help Prepare Tourism and Hospitality Businesses for Post-Pandemic Recovery
Immigration, Skills and Labour, Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
2021-01-15

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour today announced $1.12 million over three years through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement to support Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s (HNL) efforts to prepare the tourism and hospitality sector for a post-pandemic recovery.

HNL’s Rebuilding a Dynamic Tourism Workforce for Newfoundland and Labrador project will use this investment to assist with recovery by providing resources, support, and learning opportunities for businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector, including:

Communications and Awareness – engaging with sector employers and providing opportunities, such as virtual job fairs and an employee attraction and retention campaign.

Skills and Knowledge Development – identifying future skills requirements and delivering a tourism business mentoring program, webinars, podcasts, and HNL conferences.

Business Support Services – expanding existing services to provide confidential, one-on-one support to help tourism and hospitality businesses better understand their operations and recover following the pandemic.

Workforce Development Plan – developing a plan to guide efforts to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. This will include five-year goals that serve as a foundation for long-term efforts to ensure the tourism and hospitality industry has the workforce it needs for a bright future.

HNL represents tourism and hospitality businesses throughout the province with a mandate to support the development of a professional workforce.

Quotes
“Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s comprehensive plan to help tourism and hospitality businesses prepare for the post-pandemic recovery will contribute to growth in the sector and the economy as a whole. By investing in training, skills and knowledge, our government and its partners are helping to ensure visitors to this province enjoy a world-class experience that spreads the word about everything Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour

“Our tourism and hospitality industry has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new program will assist Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador as they continue to work with tourism operators to prepare for post-pandemic business. This funding will help support new opportunities for operators as they work towards the path to recovery of the sector.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“A thriving tourism industry is essential to lead Newfoundland and Labrador’s recovery. Considering the impact COVID-19 has had on employment levels in our sector, today’s funding announcement is particularly welcomed. In order to remain competitive as a sector of choice for workers, increase visitation in the future and offer quality experiences that enhance the Newfoundland and Labrador brand promise, our workforce needs proper training and opportunities to deliver exceptional services in a post-COVID-19 world.”
Brenda O’Reilly, Chair
Hospitality NL

“This new funding will provide an increased focus for opportunities on training, skills and knowledge development for tourism operators and their staff. Tourism is a people business. Pre-pandemic, tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador employed 20,000 people. We look forward to seeing our workforce rebound and grow with these added opportunities, keeping tourism at the forefront as a viable career option that creates jobs and contributes greatly to our economy.”
Craig Foley, CEO
Hospitality NL

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Media contacts
Ryan Crocker
Immigration, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
ryancrocker@gov.nl.ca

Kathryn Summers
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
709-729-4819, 699-6147
kathrynsummers@gov.nl.ca

Shanelle Clowe
Hospitality NL
709-722-2000 ext. 231
sclowe@hnl.ca

2021 01 15 1:30 pm