Tourist hot-spot targeted for hospitality training

Tourist hot-spot targeted for hospitality
training roadshow

News article issued on behalf of the
Hospitality Standards Institute

Hospitality business operators and their staff on New Zealand’s premier tourism destination island are being targeted in this country’s first professional two-day training and information roadshow - aimed at attracting personnel toward a vibrant hospitality industry struggling to fill job vacancies.

Organised by New Zealand’s hospitality industry training organisation, the Hospitality Standards Institute, the roadshow takes place on June 7 and 8 at Waiheke Island Resort. With a population of some 6000 residents, Waiheke Island in the Auckland Gulf has one of the greatest concentrations of upmarket cafes, dining establishments and winery restaurants in New Zealand.

Hospitality Standards Institute Training Advisor Angela de Jong enthusiastically explained the rationale behind the roadshow on the island

"Firstly, Waiheke Island relies heavily on tourism and hospitality for much of its livelihood. Per capita, the island has a huge number of quality food and beverage businesses – especially when you take into account its relatively small landmass. And secondly, the island is quite compact in terms of participants travelling to the education sessions, which makes attendance attractive – if not compulsive,” said Angela de Jong.

Several key figureheads in Waiheke’s hospitality industry have already signed up their support for the two-day HSI roadshow. Among them are:

- Mudbrick Winery Restaurant chef Danny Round who will soon become the first chef on Waiheke island to graduate from the Modern Apprenticeship programme. Mudbrick also has another young chef, Will Arthur, working through his cookery apprenticeship.
- The Shed restaurant executive chef Peter Becker.
- Former hotel human resources manager Karen Webb from the Waiheke Island Resort.
- Hospitality apprentice assessor Dawn Brown.

“This is an exciting employment initiative for the people of Waiheke Island. We hope to match up the needs of employers searching for enthusiastic staff to fill the numerous job vacancies on offer, with prospective employees who are looking for career paths and training commitment when seeking out job opportunities in the current tight labour market,” Ms de Jong concluded.

The Hospitality Standards Institute’s Waiheke roadshow is broken down into two separate days. June 7 will spotlight HSI’s Greet NZ course throughout the day. Greet NZ is a training programme which recognises and enhances New Zealand’s unique style of customer service. Among the range of customer service topics covered in the Greet NZ programme are:
* Communication skills – including customer empathy and psychology.
* Up-selling.
* Personality development.
* Product knowledge.
* Personal presentation – including grooming, speech and deportment. Registrations can be made in advance through HSI’S website www.greetnz.co.nz at a cost of $55 per person.

Following on from the Greet NZ course will be a free information session promoting the training initiatives available through HSI ranging from restaurant service and professional cookery through to coffee-making, and into the accommodation sector. The information session runs from 6pm – 7.30pm. To book a place at the free information seminar, potential participants can email HSI coordinator Stephanie Hill on stephaniehill@hsi.co.nz or by telephoning 0800 ASK 4 HSI (0800 275 4474).

Then on June 8 from 9am – 10.30am, the Waiheke Island roadshow will replicate the information session about the hospitality training options offered through HSI. Again, attendance is free and can be secured by contacting Stephanie Hill at HSI. All educational sessions are being held at the Waiheke Island Resort.

ENDS

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