Hospitality New Zealand releases strategy to help the industry thrive

With hospitality being New Zealand’s seventh largest employer, Hospitality New Zealand has released a five-year strategy to help the industry thrive.

New Zealand is renowned for manaakitanga (hospitality), with the country's hospitality sector at the forefront of creating memorable experiences and offering a warm welcome to locals and manuhiri (visitors).

Hospitality businesses are an economic engine and a focal point of the community in every New Zealand town. There are more than 24,000 of these businesses across the motu, employing more than 176,000 people.  

Steve Armitage, Hospitality NZ Chief Executive (pictured above) says the new strategy is designed to meet the needs of operators working in a sector that is New Zealand's seventh largest employer, and experiencing the fastest growth rate across all sectors.  

Armitage shares "Hospitality is the glue that binds communities together. The restaurants, cafes, bars, motels and hotels spread across the motu serve as places where people gather to connect, unwind, stay and socialise.

"As we move beyond the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the current fiscal recession, we need to sharpen our focus on two fronts: supporting businesses through the here and now, but being deliberate about building towards a future where the sector is more sustainable and better equipped to weather any further headwinds."  

New Strategy:  

Hospitality NZ's strategy outlines how the organisation will deliver on its promise to be the hospitality sector's champion, introducing ideas and initiatives that are designed to generate long-term success for the sector. These include:  

• Building a future-fit pipeline of talent

• Improving the environmental performance of the wider hospitality sector

• Addressing and championing mental health and wellbeing within the sector

• Advocating for major and business events that help stimulate the wider hospitality sectors

• Expanding connections with New Zealand's ethnic communities to ensure that membership is as diverse as business operators and patrons.  

Armitage says Hospitality NZ will also continue to focus on "providing the support our members, local business communities and the wider sector need to be successful today" by:  

• Advocating on the issues that are most important to them to help create a positive business environment for hospitality.

• Providing members with up-to-date and relevant services, including employment resources and in-house legal expertise.

• Giving members access to world-class training and targeted resources which help business owners train and upskill their people, and supports their individual professional development.

• Celebrating sector excellence and providing members local and national connections, benefits, discounts and support.  

Armitage adds "We all know that the business landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years. Membership organisations like Hospitality NZ need to evolve to stay relevant and create a sense of belonging.

"Through implementing this strategy, we will provide improved tools, resources, partnerships, and knowledge, and deliver the support businesses and people in the hospitality sector need to succeed and add value to their businesses and careers.  

"Ultimately, we aspire for hospitality to be recognised and celebrated for its contribution to Aotearoa, attracting fresh talent and generating sustainable returns for businesses and communities.  

"Now is the time to renew our focus - to define a sector made up of good, sustainable, profitable businesses, developing the next generation of owners and leaders, that serve and support their communities, and create memorable experiences."

About Hospitality NZ:  

• Hospitality NZ’s five-year strategy can be viewed here.  

• Hospitality NZ supports thousands of hospitality and accommodation businesses of all sizes across the motu, to deliver the world-famous manaakitanga (hospitality) which New Zealand is renowned for.

• We provide the hospitality sector with the tools, resources, partnerships and knowledge to maximise their success and add value to their businesses.

• We also advocate for what our members need to succeed, making sure decision makers are focused on addressing their most pressing issues to create a positive business environment for hospitality.

To find out more visit hospitality.org.nz