N.L. launching training tool for restaurant staff ahead of summer tourism season
Training can increase service standards across province, says Jeremy Bonia
Newfoundland and Labrador will soon launch a digital training tool to help coach front-line staff in the food and hospitality industries ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer season.
Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth Gerry Byrne announced Wednesday the province has spent around $208,000 to build and produce training modules for staff in restaurant and hospitality settings.
"Hospitality and the service culture is in our DNA. It's one of the reasons why Newfoundland and Labrador is a destination of choice," said Byrne.
"We can always move this to the next step, and this is what this program is all about … that can be in, you know, the amazing establishments here in St. John's, or it could be at a food truck in Rocky Harbour."
The training will be available to operators beginning June 10.
Jeremy Bonia, a veteran of the food scene in downtown St. John's who helped develop the program, says training can come at great cost for establishments.
He says restaurateurs and the province wanted to create the tool to help increase service standards, and the tool can work in the hands of everyone from those at five-star restaurants to take-out counters.
"Government provided us a solution here and offered up the ability for us to create a program for those that can't afford to do it themselves. And obviously, you're going to take advantage of that," Bonia said.
"If anything, it's going to save businesses time and money in terms of training staff. And hopefully this is something that perpetuates in the years to come."
Derek Locke, owner and director of Cojones and Grotto, says the standardized teaching will help both business owners and staff. He believes it will make the training process more effective and cost-saving for owners, while staff can begin practical work in restaurants sooner.
"Being able to do the training in a TikTok format — with videos and tests and important steps of service — is huge for us. It saves us thousands and thousands of dollars," he said.
Locke says staff could ideally go through the training together on-site, but the mobile aspect could allow for staff to go through training on their own time.
He didn't directly answer if staff would be paid for the time they spend on the training tool.
Bonia says the tool also comes ahead of what could be an especially busy summer season, given the arrival of cruise ships, icebergs and the thousands of people that will descend on the St. John's region for the Canada Summer Games in August.
"Everything is kind of pointing toward it being an extremely high volume of tourists travelling this summer, so that's what we're really excited about. And hopefully it works out."
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With files from Abby Cole and Patrick Butler
