Plan now for 2012 Professional Recognition Dinners

If you had just put 3,600 hours in on-the-job training, toiled through emerit Tourism Professional Certification, spent countless nights studying for exams and sweated through a multitude of performance evaluations, don't you think you deserve a spectacular graduation party?

We certainly think you deserve it. So, circle these dates on your calendar to help us celebrate our 19th Annual Tourism Professional Recognition Dinners.

• Saskatoon dinner: June 11, Sheraton Cavalier.
• Regina dinner: June 13, Regina Inn.

These dinners recognize the culmination of years' worth of effort that Saskatchewan's tourism workers have dedicated toward building substantial long-term careers. While they don't often get the public attention of, say, high school or university graduation ceremonies, these dinners represent a significant achievement in the lives of the young people - and sometimes not-so-young people - who have completed their training. Maybe you know someone, such as a friend or family member, who has made Journeyperson or who has completed their Tourism Professional Certification. Make sure you congratulate them for their achievement. There are more than 4,000 such people in Saskatchewan currently.

The two annual dinners also recognize the contributions of the people and businesses that provide training, facilities and other support, as well as the people and businesses that show outstanding professionalism in Saskatchewan's tourism sector. It's one heck of a night that's not soon forgotten by those who are there.


Recognition categories

Certification Honourees

• Certified tourism industry professionals recognize the value of lifelong learning and personal development. Many tourism professionals have attained certification in two or more occupations.

Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors

• The Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors (CITC) advances the professional development of travel counsellors and managers. It promotes the national industry designations of Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC) and Certified Travel Manager (CTM).

Journeypersons

• Tourism apprenticeships are offered through STEC in partnership with the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission. Apprenticeships are available in two trades: Guest Services Representative and Food and Beverage Person. To become journeypersons, apprentices must have 3,600 hours of work experience, receive professional certification in their chosen trade, complete a range of occupational, safety and trade-related training, and successfully pass a series of examinations.

Property Recognition

• Education and training opportunities for frontline staff are key to the success of Saskatchewan’s tourism sector. Employer support and encouragement are critical. The tourism sector acknowledges Saskatchewan businesses for their commitment to staff development through emerit National Occupational Standards and Professional Certification.

Service Best Recognition

• Businesses that attain a high level of achievement – at least 60% staff or management participation in Service Best – are recognized in our Business Recognition program.

Employer of Choice Recognition

• STEC's Employer of Choice program is designed to assist tourism businesses across the province in attracting and retaining staff by providing employers with the tools and resources to engage in best practices, increase staff training, improve organizational human resources practices, and be recognized as a leader in the tourism sector.

Ambassador Awards

• The tourism sector is made up of five industries: accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services. There may not be an award given for all industries in every year. Nominees for an Ambassador Award must meet the following criteria: certified in a tourism occupation, active in tourism, embody the values of certification, and exhibit an ongoing commitment to professionalism in tourism.

More information on our Professional Recognition Dinners.
See last year's program or announcement.

Three new downloadable workbooks available from emerit

If you've earned your national emerit certification in one of Canada's recognized tourism professions, you're likely familiar with the training workbook that you received. While you were able to complete other components of your training online, that workbook was only available in its printed edition - until now.

This week, emerit released the workbook in a new, downloadable format, starting with these three occupations:

• Front Desk Agent.
• Reservation Sales Agent.
• Tourism Visitor Information Counsellor.

The cost for each of the downloadable versions is $70, compared with $85 for the hard-copy workbooks. You can still download and use the national occupational standards for free.

emerit is recognized by tourism employers across Canada. Tourism Certified Professionals meet job standards set by industry. To become certified, individuals must pass exams demonstrating their knowledge and practical skills, and complete a minimum number of hours to gain experience. It takes from six months to two years to become emerit certified, depending on past experience and knowledge.

emerit Professional Certification is available for 27 of the 46 tourism professions with National Occupational Standards.  STEC is the local representative of the emerit training brand, offered through the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council.  Certification obtained in Saskatchewan is recognized nationally across Canada. In 2011, STEC recognized the province's 2000th certified professional.

Designations are available for Tourism Certified Professional (TCP), Tourism Certified Supervisor (TCS), and Tourism Certified Manager (TCM).

Meadow Lake readies for Service Best

"Customer service is key to tourism," notes 55 West Enterprise Region Economic Development director Corey Bowers.

That's why he's looking for Meadow Lake and area businesses to sign up for Service Best in March.

There's a real need, Bowers says. There aren't a lot of businesses that have customer service training available to them.

He chose the program offered by STEC because it's "one of the best ones out there," he says.

The entertaining and interactive workshop provides useful tools to help front line staff create memorable customer experiences, identify and respond to customer needs, and turn dissatisfied customers into loyal allies. Service Best is ideal for anyone who deals with customers, including trades, retail and health care. The program content is wide-ranging, not focused exclusively on tourism and hospitality work.

In addition to finding employees in local businesses to fill the workshop, Bowers plans to include volunteers who will be working with the 2012 Saskatchewan Summer Games, being held in Meadow Lake, July 29 to August 4.

Businesses that have 60 per cent or more of their staff or management completing Service Best, receive recognition through STEC's Business Recognition program.

This edition of Service Best workshop is being offered at special group pricing to make it easier for businesses to enrol.

Workshop details:

• Date: March 8, 2012
• Location: Meadow Lake
• Length: 7 hours
• Cost: $79.00 plus GST (Compare with our regular prices: $109 for Tourism Saskatchewan members, $129 for non-members)
• Register by: March 1, 2012

Register online: www.steconlinelearning.com
For questions about Service Best: stec.training@sasktourism.com
Toll Free: 1-800-331-1529

Open to the public. Pre-registration required.

Download the Service Best promotional flyer.

Lake Diefenbaker Service Best workshops

Lake Diefenbaker Tourism Destination Area aims to have 60 per cent of businesses and 60 per cent of staff in those businesses participating in Service Best.

That's why STEC is offering it's award-winning Service Best workshop in communities throughout the region, at special group pricing* that makes it easier than ever for businesses to empower their frontline staff to deliver superior customer service. Service Best is ideal for anyone who deals with customers, in any industry, from tourism to retail to health care.

Upcoming Workshops:

• Elbow, February 15.
• Central Butte, February 21.
• Whitecap, February 22.
• Outlook, February 28.
• Davidson, February 29.

Enrolment:
Visit steconlinelearning.com to sign up for the scheduled workshops.

For questions about Service Best: stec.training@sasktourism.com
Toll Free: 1-800-331-1529

*Special Lake Diefenbaker Tourism Service Best Initiative Rate: $79 for all registrants + GST (Regular Fee is $109 for Tourism Saskatchewan members, $129 for non-members).

RTW launches in Ile a la Crosse

STEC and its northern partners Can-Sask Career and Employment Services, Primrose Lake Economic Development Corporation and Northern Career Quest launched Camp Services – Ready to Work in Ile a la Crosse today, January 16. Participants will develop workplace essential skills, and will be introduced to culinary arts and the standards for housekeeping, as well as earn certificates in First Aid / CPR, WHMIS and Food Safe.

The RTW program combines classroom instruction, hands-on skills training, and on-the-job mentoring to under-represented groups making a transition from unemployment or underemployment into the tourism workforce. Since its inception in 1994, more than 40 communities in Saskatchewan and more than 2,900 individuals have participated in RTW, found long-term rewarding careers, returned to school, completed journeyperson trades certification, or received promotions from frontline to supervisory positions.

New year, workshops gear up

I've just posted new workshop dates, such as HR Essentials and Starting a Fruit Winery. Now that the holidays are behind us, workshops and programs are getting into full swing. Check out the full listing, updated regularly, on STEC's Training and Events Calendar or Online Learning portal.

Starting a Fruit Winery

Five-day workshop, January 23 to 27, 2012

Led by Dominic Rivard, internationally-renowned and award-winning wine master, this five-day program is an excellent source of training and information for those who wish to make fruit wine. Lectures, assignments and tests as well as the textbook will be presented by qualified instructors (Dominic and two others for the regulatory and funding programs).

Dominic has been a consulting wine maker for the last 15 years, specializing in making wine from fruit. Dominic’s training and experience have led to his involvement in successful fruit wine startups worldwide and dozens of medals for the products he produces. Visit Dominic's blog, The Daily Fruit Wine.

Date: January 23 - 27, 2012. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Price: $995 + GST / person
Register by: January 15, 2012
Register online: www.steconlinelearning.com

Contact: Tim Ouellette, Industry Consultant, Industry Development, tim.ouellette@sasktourism.com
Phone: 306-933-5900
Toll Free: 1-800-331-1529

HR Essentials for tourism business owners and managers

HR Management - for people who aren't HR Managers

STEC is holding two workshops on human resources management for people who aren’t HR managers. HR Essentials provides a five-step process that shows you in less than six hours how to find reliable employees, create a productive workplace and reduce expensive staff turnover. With your own copy of the emerit HR Toolkit, you’ll learn how to prepare job advertisements that get results, create application forms that ask the right questions, and conduct interviews that weed out unqualified candidates. The workshop shows you how to build a winning team that keeps your business competitive and lets you plan for a secure future. The workshop also covers occupational health and safety, employee orientation, and staff training. Your HR Toolkit contains all the forms and templates you need to get started right away.

Two HR Essentials workshops are scheduled: in Saskatoon, Tuesday, February 7; and in Regina, Wednesday, February 8. Cost is $175/person, plus GST. For more information, visit www.steconlinelearning.com.

RTW Culinary Arts holds VIP luncheon in Regina

Mouth-watering duck salad starts VIP
luncheon as participants showcase their
talents at the conclusion of Ready to
Work (RTW) – Intro to Culinary Arts –
Tourism Careers.

Participants concluding their Ready to Work (RTW) – Intro to Culinary Arts – Tourism Careers program in Regina hosted a VIP luncheon at the Adult Centre for Employment Readiness and Training (ACERT), November 18. The luncheon allowed 19 adult students to showcase their skills to their families and local MLAs.

Ready to Work is a career awareness, skills development, and transition-to-employment program that assists individuals in finding long-term, rewarding careers in the tourism sector. It is coordinated nationally through the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) and delivered in Saskatchewan by the Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council (STEC), a division of Tourism Saskatchewan, with support from federal, provincial and community partners. In Regina, these partners include the City of Regina, Regina Trade and Skills Centre (RTSC), Regina Food Bank, First Nations Employment Centre and Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

SHSA completes STEC facilitator's workshop for staff

The Service and Hospitality Safety Association of Saskatchewan (SHSA) arranged STEC’s Facilitator Skills Development Workshop for nine staff in November.

The 3½-day “train the trainer” workshop builds a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for anyone who delivers training or presentations to adults. The workshop is required for all contract facilitators of STEC training programs, but in this instance the SHSA was looking for a program that would help its staff deliver its own training and services more effectively. The STEC program was a perfect match because it’s tailored to industries in the tourism sector, providing participants with skills and practice that make them better communicators and trainers.

Any organization can use the facilitators’ workshop to help staff create more productive working relationships, and to engage and motivate their clients. The SHSA participants said that in addition to discovering those benefits, they valued the way the workshop approaches planning and facilitating.

More Service Best workshops in Prince Albert

STEC has scheduled Service Best workshops in Prince Albert at a reduced rate to help area businesses create Canada's first Service Best City.

Prince Albert Tourism, Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce, Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District and North Central Enterprise Region have challenged local and area businesses to become designated as Service Best Businesses. Prince Albert becomes a Service Best City when 300 of the 500 businesses that are members of the Chamber of Commerce achieve Service Best Business designation.

For workshop dates and registration information, visit www.steconlinelearning.com.

Lake Diefenbaker area teachers ready to deliver Service Best in high schools

Mid-Sask Enterprise Region organized a Teachers’ In-Service workshop in Outlook in November. Seven teachers from schools in the Sun West School Division, and another from Prairie Spirit School Division in Blaine Lake, certified as facilitators to deliver Service Best in the destination region’s high schools to give students a competitive advantage in their summer jobs. Most people get their first job experience working in tourism, so early customer service training can really help.

Diefenbaker Destination Developments is setting the groundwork for becoming the first Service Best Area. As part of its destination strategy designed to improve tourism infrastructure, training and awareness, the non-profit organization and its partners, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Tourism Saskatchewan, Lake Diefenbaker Tourism, and the Mid-Sask Enterprise Region are working to create a culture of service excellence.

From now until the end of March, the destination area is setting up Service Best in Outlook, Elbow, Central Butte, Lucky Lake and Davidson. STEC is making the workshop available at special group pricing that makes it easier to empower frontline staff to deliver superior customer service. For workshop dates and registration information, visit www.steconlinelearning.com.

Tourism Saskatoon looking for marketing director

Tourism Saskatoon is looking for a Director of Markets & Advertising. Application Deadline is January 20. For details, visit the Tourism Saskatoon careers page.