albertahospitality The Official Magazine of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association Tips for Hiring FOREIGN WORKERS Trends in Recreation Growing Alberta’s Tourism Industry PM40026059 Winter 2014 albertahospitality this issue TIPS FOR HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS With the current labour shortage, 6 hiring temporary foreign workers has become necessary for many operators. 12 Trends in Recreation 16 Profile: Pomeroy Inn & Suites Olds 19 Tour of Alberta in every issue 20 Expanding Your Circle of Trust 4 Chairman’s Report 24 The AHLA’s Annual 5 President & CEO’s Message Convention & Trade Show 10 Travel Alberta 18 Alberta’s Treasures 26 Growing Alberta’s Tourism Industry 23 HR Matters 25 What’s New? 30 Making Great First Impressions 29 Names in the News CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Filling the Need by Perry Wilford alberta hospitality At the recent Travel Alberta industry conference, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation Minister Dr. Richard Starke Official magazine of announced Alberta’s Tourism Framework. This Framework is for implementation in 2013 and understands the importance of having well- onwards to 2020. trained staff who want to serve guests, and INSPIRING SERVICE, GROWING VALUE The Tourism Framework contains many recognizes that we aren’t just selling a bed excellent ideas and objectives, all intended to sleep in, we’re providing an experience. AHLA The people who provide that experience are 2707 Ellwood Drive, to build Alberta’s tourism industry from Edmonton AB, T6X 0P7 $7.8 billion to $10.3 billion over the next 6 an integral part of our product. And while Toll Free: 1.888.436.6112 years. This is indeed a lofty goal and is one anecdotes about the personal and economic www.ahla.ca that is attainable with vision and hard work. toll of being short staffed underscore our CHAIR OF THE BOARD However, there are challenges whenever you point, governments make policy based on Perry Wilford reach high, and in this case one challenge facts, not stories. The Minister appreciated the information that our members provided FIRST VICE CHAIR rises above all - the ever present labour issue. Michael Sieger in our 2013 Labour Market Survey, and In a time when AHLA members consistently acknowledged that developing our workforce VICE CHAIR experience a shortage of qualified workers Perry Batke will be critical to delivering on the goal of to fill the current needs of operating our making tourism a $10.3 billion industry by VICE CHAIR properties, there will undoubtedly be 2020. Tina Tobin hardships serving our guests, both currently PAST CHAIR and going forward. This is a very real concern. The AHLA has started working on a strategy Mike Shymka for accommodation industry labour. This Recently I travelled to Edmonton for a strategy will be our road map for working with PRESIDENT & CEO meeting between the AHLA and the Minister Dave Kaiser government, post-secondary institutions, and to discuss the Framework and the labour other stakeholders to address our critical need DIRECTORS NORTH issue. We offered our members’ support for Mark Hope for qualified and committed people. Our job, the Framework and expressed our belief that Peter Parmar as individual members and as an association, Tony Verbisky this is a great goal and a positive step for our will be to help build our industry’s image as Steven Watters industry. We emphasized the need to find one that offers satisfying careers, competitive DIRECTORS CENTRAL long-term solutions to the labour shortages compensation, and long-term prospects. I am Perry Batke our industry has experienced going forward. Michael Sieger excited about how we can help your property Robin Cumine I am pleased to tell you that our Minister is a achieve this in 2014. Tina Tobin real champion for tourism in this province. He DIRECTORS SOUTH Chris Barr Leanne Shaw-Brotherston Alberta Hospitality is published quarterly by: AHLA’s 94th Annual PUBLICATIONS Convention & Trade Show T 604-574-4577 1-800-667-0955 F 604-574-2196 [email protected] April 24-26, Banff Centre www.emcmarketing.com Publisher & Editor - Joyce Hayne Copy Editor - Debbie Minke Enhance your exposure with an ad or Design & Layout - Krysta Furioso enhanced listing in the official 2014 Annual PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40026059 Convention Program & Show Guide RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT EMC PUBLICATIONS 19073 63 AVE Book space by February 28 SURREY BC V3S 8G7 email: [email protected] 1-800-667-0955 joyce@emcmarketing PRESIDENT & CEO’S MESSAGE Addressing the Labour Challenge by Dave Kaiser The ongoing labour shortage is still the biggest challenge facing AHLA members. It was the major topic discussed at our 2013 fall regional meetings, held with members in 11 communities across Alberta. At these meetings we shared the results of our AHLA 2013 Labour Market Survey, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and discussed key initiatives currently underway or planned as part of a broader strategy to address • Making specific recommendations to the federal government on how our industry’s biggest challenge. to make the TFW program more accessible for our industry The results of our survey indicate that kitchen staff, food and beverage • Encouraging members to nominate TFWs to become permanent servers, front desk agents, and housekeeping room attendants are residents through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program among the hardest occupations to fill. Foreign workers are an increasingly • Promoting the recruitment of foreign workers with hospitality important source of labour given that: experience through the AHLA’s partnership with the Jamaican Ministry • 28% of respondents currently employ foreign workers, or have hired of Labour and Social Security foreign workers in the last two years • Developing an online industry job bank that can be strategically • 44% plan to hire foreign workers in the near future marketed to under-employed groups and in areas of Canada with high unemployment • One in every five full-time employees is a TFW • Offering training through Housekeeping Edge, Front Desk Agent, and • Since 2011, the total number of foreign workers employed in our Team Excellence workshops industry has increased by 25% • Helping members to retain staff through the AHLA’s Employer of • The turnover rate for foreign workers in 2012 was significantly lower Choice, employee benefits, and RRSP programs than the industry average • Promoting careers in our industry by working with educational The results of our survey also dispel two common myths about our institutions, with support from the AHLA’s Scholarship Program industry - that minimum wage jobs are the norm in our industry, and that foreign workers are consistently paid less than their Canadian Working together on a dynamic industry strategy is the best approach equivalents. to meet our challenge. The AHLA is preparing a Strategy for Industry Accommodation Labour We look forward to serving you! (SAIL) that will coordinate the work of government, the AHLA, and our members. Key elements of the strategy include: alberta hospitality | 5 COVER STORY TIPS FOR HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS by Cynthia Hirak With the current labour shortage, hiring temporary foreign workers has become necessary for many operators to be able to service their guests. Some managers don’t recognize the long lead time required to hire foreign workers - a process that can take more than six months. 6 | alberta hospitality TIPS FOR HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS Forecasting Food Counter Food & Front Due to the long processing times involved in Attendant/Kitchen Beverage Desk Room hiring TFWs, it is critical to forecast your need Helper Server Clerk Attendant for staff. Don’t just look three months ahead; Athabasca - Grande consider your needs nine to twelve months Prairie - Peace River $11.79 $10.00 $13.00 $14.75 down the road. Evaluate past labour shortage trends and note the time periods when you Banff - Jasper - need more staff. Rocky Mountain House $11.50 $9.95 $13.00 $13.85 Eligibility Calgary $11.16 $10.00 $13.00 $14.07 To be eligible to hire temporary foreign workers (TFWs), you are required show Camrose - that there are no local Canadian citizens or Drumheller $11.00 $10.00 $10.00 $13.85 permanent residents available to do the job. Edmonton $11.25 $10.00 $13.00 $13.15 Carefully research the labour market and ensure that you are offering the median wage Lethbridge - rate. This may be a factor in not being able to Medicine Hat $10.25 $ 9.95 $11.32 $12.50 locate staff locally as you may be offering less than your average competitor. The following Red Deer $10.88 $10.00 $12.00 $13.85 chart will provide you with guidelines for the average hourly wage you should pay, Wood Buffalo - according to region. Cold Lake $13.00 $11.00 $17.30 $13.85 alberta hospitality | 7 TIPS FOR HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS Advertising Positions Due to the long processing times involved Advertisement of the vacant position(s) should be conducted for a in hiring TFWs, it is critical to forecast your minimum of 4 weeks on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank website, in print media, or other general employment websites. Ensure that you need for staff. also target underrepresented groups such as aboriginal, youth, etc. You must provide a wide array of options for potential hires to apply such { as mail, fax, email, etc. This is required in case the local candidate does Applying for TFWs not have access to one of the options. The ads must also include the Once all your recruitment efforts have been completed, it is time to apply company’s operating name, business address, title of position, job duties, to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. It’s recommended that you wage, and skill requirements. pre-register online for web service since the processing time is shorter.