The Restaurant Association and Hospitality New Zealand have jointly released a full report to the Government from the 2024 Hospitality Summit, providing a comprehensive roadmap for addressing 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.
“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, “It’s fantastic to see the insights and ideas discussed at last year’s Hospitality Summit now presented as actionable solutions in this report.
“I’m pleased to see that the Government’s focus on tourism growth aligns with the hospitality sector’s priorities. The sector’s renowned hustle and hard work shines through in its response to this report, with industry leading the way on most recommendations.”
Momentum With Quick Wins
At the first meeting with Minister Upston, hospitality industry representatives were asked what ʻboldʼ looks like for the sector. 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.
“Weʼre 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.