Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador kicks off 2024 Conference and Trade Show by launching crucial We Are Tourism Workforce Action Plan.

February 21, 2024

For Immediate Release

St. Johns, NL With expenditures reaching $1.2 billion, there’s no question that tourism is a vital sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. With over 2,300 businesses, the industry creates opportunities and meaningful employment of all experience levels for tens of thousands of people throughout the province.

Over the last two years, Hospitality NL’s We Are Tourism campaign has highlighted the potential for rewarding, lifelong careers in tourism, aiming to transform and diversify the province into a thriving tourism destination. But there’s still work to be done. Through the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, access to labour continues to be the industry’s greatest challenge.

At the 2024 Conference and Trade Show, Hospitality NL announced a commitment to meet that challenge with the launch of the We Are Tourism Workforce Action Plan.

This new action plan ensures the continued growth and success of the tourism industry by focusing on the commitment to effective workforce planning and policies, and the collaborative approaches required to attract and retain a skilled workforce. This plan builds on Hospitality NL’s Employment Pillar from its Vision 2026 document. In this strategic plan, four strategic goals and thirteen action items are identified to address both short-term solutions and long-term measures to strengthen the workforce and foster sustainable growth:

• Enhance the perception of the tourism sector as a positive career path in Newfoundland and Labrador

• Minimize barriers for entry into the tourism workforce

• Support human resources capacity

• Emphasize Newfoundland and Labrador culture in the workplace and recognize those who demonstrate excellence in their HR practices

The We Are Tourism Workforce Action Plan invites tourism operators, industry associations, communities, and all levels of government to actively participate and take ownership of the four strategic objectives.

“Our industry is vital to our province’s economy, and with this plan, we are putting our sector on a trajectory to thrive even more. It is driven by our commitment to Vision 2026 and creating avenues to ensure collaboration and inspire real action. We are focused on improving workforce planning, policies, and collaboration to guarantee tourism offers quality jobs for people at all levels of expertise.”

Deborah Bourden, Chair, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador.