Tourism Saskatchewan - IndustryMatters.com

Saskatoon, and Prince Albert, and were attended by
approximately 70 tourism industry members.
emerit Standards and Certification
In 2010-2011, there were 183 individuals registered in
emerit Professional Certification. A total of 137 completed
and obtained nationally recognized emerit certification in
their occupation. Through STEC’s partnership with the
Saskatchewan Apprenticeship & Trade Certification
Commission, 34 individuals achieved Journeyperson
status in the Food and Beverage Person and Guest
Services Representative trades.
STEC successfully promoted business sustainability by
ensuring that Saskatchewan's tourism sector achieved
100 per cent participation in revising and developing
CTHRC emerit standards and certification programs.
Ready To Work – Tourism Careers (RTW)
STEC delivers the Ready to Work – Tourism Careers
(RTW) program, coordinated nationally by the Canadian
Tourism Human Resource Council. RTW is a career
awareness, skills development, and transition-toemployment
program that assists individuals in finding
long-term, rewarding careers in the tourism sector. In
2010-2011, a total of 394 individuals participated in the
program (up 26 per cent over the previous year), with 75
per cent having obtained employment to date. Over the
past five years, STEC’s RTW program has engaged
about 500 employers, adding approximately 60 new
employers each year.
In addition to enhancing existing partnerships with
Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group,
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, and Kitsaki Development
Corporation, STEC established new partnerships with
Cowessess First Nation and Cumberland House Cree
Nation.
Employer of Choice
The Employer of Choice program was launched in
Saskatchewan in 2009, recognizing the first four
Employers of Choice in 2010. In 2010-2011, STEC
welcomed five new businesses – including Tourism
Saskatchewan – as Employers of Choice, bringing the
total to nine. The tourism Employer of Choice initiative is
designed to assist tourism businesses attract and retain
the best staff.
Service Best Communities
STEC partnered with Prince Albert Tourism, Prince Albert
Chamber of Commerce, Prince Albert Business
Improvement District, and North Central Enterprise
Region to provide training that would make Prince Albert
the first Service Best city in Canada. Similarly, the
organization began work with the Lake Diefenbaker
Tourism Destination Area to help establish a culture of
service excellence designed to draw more visitors to the
area.
UPSKILL Essentials to Excel
In partnership with Social Research and Demonstration
Corporation, STEC introduced UPSKILL Essentials to
Excel, an innovative pan-Canadian research initiative to
assess return on investment in training for frontline staff
in the accommodations industry. This initiative is aimed at
assessing and planning for skills development. In
Saskatchewan, 150 workers (of 1,200-1,500 nationally) at
14 properties (of 88 nationally) are participating, a
healthy contribution to this national initiative.
Market Development Strategy
In 2010-2011, STEC began work on a market
development strategy to serve operators with a greater
range of services tailored to their needs and introduce
new operators to the services of the organization.
Professional Recognition Dinners
In June, Professional Recognition Dinners were held in
Saskatoon and Regina in honour of individuals achieving
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