Training aims to bring youth to hospitality to help skills shortage
New training initiative trial to help reduce hospo skills shortage
A new training initiative at one of the country’s top international hotels aims to help provide a model to address the labour shortage threatening the tourism industry.
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Hilton Lake Taupo¯ have launched a new programme which will help MSD candidates and school leavers develop the fundamental hospitality skills required for a career — within the global luxury hotel industry.
Industry experts say the shortage of staff within the tourism and hospitality industries was at crisis point and has threatened to impact the image of New Zealand among overseas visitors.
The new in-house basic hospitality service course will help students trained in grooming and presentation, making a bed to an international Hilton standard, general housekeeping, cocktail and barista skills, waiting tables, food and beverage preparation, porter and luggage service.
Finalists announced for annual Rotorua Business Awards Forty-seven finalists have been announced for this year’s Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards.
Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Bryce Heard said there had been an unusually high number of quality entrants this year which, in his view, reflected the tight-knit business community.
The calibre of the finalists was “magnificent,” Heard said.
He acknowledged Covid-19 had a big impact on the sector but it also highlighted businesses that were run well. The winners will be announced at a gala event on November 5.
Bay businesses expect NZ’S economy to decline over the next year
New data out from Business Management platform MYOB shows Bay of Plenty businesses expect the country’s economy to decline over the next year.
The latest MYOB SME Snapshot — a survey of more than 500 local SMES — revealed Bay of Plenty businesses were on a par with the SME average.
The Snapshot showed 71 per cent of local businesses expected the economy to decline over the next year.
A higher proportion (39 per cent versus 30 per cent average) of businesses in the region expect that decline to be significant.
Revenue performance in the last 12 months for the region was fairly evenly split between those for whom revenue has declined (45 per cent) and those who have seen revenue stay the same over the last year (42 per cent).
Tauranga Foodbank adds next generation to board
Sarah Burns has recently been appointed to the board of the Tauranga Community Foodbank.
Burns is a solicitor at Holland Beckett Law with an interest in trust law, being a topic she focused on as part of her self-directed research at university.
Burns has worked in the legal industry for seven years and has experience with commercial
property, financing transactions, residential conveyancing, and trust and estate planning.
Commenting on her new role with the Tauranga Community Foodbank, she said since completing her law degree last year she had been on the lookout for an opportunity to use her time and skills to give back to the community.
“Being a part of the Tauranga Community Foodbank board is the perfect role as it has substantial positive impact on wha¯ nau within our region, which I wholeheartedly support. I am honoured to be welcomed on to the board and look
forward to contributing to the wellbeing of Tauranga residents.”
Top Matariki dish award winners revealed
The winners of the Coastal Bay of Plenty’s inaugural Matariki Dish Challenge have been announced, with a five-piece set menu and a seafood pasta dish securing the top spots.
The team at The Trading Post — French Bistro, in Paengaroa, drew inspiration from the stars to create their Matariki Chef’s Menu, which the judging panel selected as the 2022 Champion award winner.
The menu featured sourdough bread, organic oysters, smoked eel, kumara and horopito gnocchi, and poached apple dessert, with each dish named after a star in the annual Matariki cluster.
The judges of the five-week challenge were impressed with how each element in every dish in The Trading Post’s entry served a purpose and was executed with precision.
The 2022 People’s Choice Award went to Fife Lane and their Pa¯ ua Toterini Karengo dish (featuring pa¯ ua tortellini with oyster sauce, seaweed and watercress).
The accolade comes hot on the
heels of several awards at last month’s BOP Hospitality Awards.
Fife Lane owner Kat Dippie said their Pa¯ ua Toterini Karengo dish was well received by diners.
“Guests were really engaged in the opportunity to try something different.”
Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park wins top award
Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park has won a top award.
The team received the Reviewpro Spirit of Hospitality 2022 award at the annual national Holiday Parks NZ Conference in Christchurch.