Industry roadmap to address hospo challenges

The Restaurant Association and Hospitality New Zealand have released the full report from the 2024 Hospitality Summit, which they say provides a comprehensive roadmap for addressing the key challenges facing New Zealand’s hospitality industry.

Developed through extensive consultation with the hospitality sector, the Summit report identifies 65 practical and actionable solutions across seven key areas:

·   Hospitality Data

·   Immigration Policy

·   Licensing and Regulatory Compliance

·   Alcohol Policy

·   Employment Issues

·   Skills and Training

·   Hospitality and Tourism

“We’re excited to officially release this report, and we’re focused on collaborating with each other alongside the government to progress these solutions,” says Marisa Bidois, Chief Executive of the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.

“The hospitality industry is a vital contributor to New Zealand’s economy, and is a key part of our tourism offering as a country. Now is the time for bold action to create a more resilient and thriving sector.”

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Louise Upston, says she is pleased to see the insights and ideas discussed at last year’s Hospitality Summit presented as actionable solutions in the report and that “the Government’s focus on tourism growth aligns with the hospitality sector’s priorities”. 

At the first meeting with Minister Upston, hospitality industry representatives were asked what ‘bold’ looks like for the sector. The Restaurant Association and Hospitality NZ say that the Summit report provides a clear answer, focusing both on quick wins that will establish momentum, as well as long-term foundational changes needed to tackle more complex challenges.

“This is an opportunity to make meaningful, lasting changes that will benefit not just our industry, but New Zealand as a whole,” says Steve Armitage, Chief Executive of Hospitality New Zealand. “We’re already seeing progress in a number of areas – such as the recent announcements of investments in attracting international business events, regional tourism and global tourism marketing – and we look forward to seeing real action come from this report.”

Some of the areas that Hospitality NZ and the Restaurant Association will work on together include specific actions covering data, skills and training, and mental health. This includes developing an online platform to consolidate industry data, establishing clear career pathways from education into hospitality, and creating dedicated mental health resources for hospitality employees.

W: Download a full copy of the 2024 Hospitality Summit Report, Serving Success: Opportunities for the New Zealand Hospitality Industry.