Prince’s Trust Canada, a national charity established by HRH The Prince of Wales, and Marriott International, a leading global lodging company with more than 6,700 properties across 129 countries and territories, have announced a new Canada wide partnership that will support youth employment and grow the hospitality-talent pool nationally.
Prince’s Trust Canada works with innovative and dedicated employer partners like Marriott International to link young people facing barriers to employment with meaningful employment opportunities. Prior to the partnership announcement, the two organizations ran a successful pilot project in Toronto.
The new Get Into Hospitality program saw 12 under-employed and underserved young people in Toronto get two weeks of rigorous classroom training and two weeks of fully paid job shadowing training at Toronto area hotels. The young people finished the program with new skills, improved confidence and jobs. Marriott International committed to hiring at least 50 percent of the program participants
“We’re excited to be partnering with Marriott International on the Get Into Hospitality program,” said Sharon Broughton, CEO of Prince’s Trust Canada. “I’ve seen firsthand how the program gives young people the confidence they need to believe in themselves, to aim higher and succeed in all aspects of their lives. Marriott International is an industry leader and their commitment to employee development, the diversity of their operations and the number of jobs available across Canada make them an ideal partner.”
In addition to helping young people struggling to find employment, the hospitality-focused curriculum and paid workplace experience program supports the expanding travel and tourism industry in Canada by preparing young Canadians for careers in the industry.
“We are proud to be the hospitality partner of choice for Prince’s Trust Canada. Marriott International recognizes the importance of helping to prepare young people for careers and college programs in the hospitality industry, and this is an additional step towards building a solid foundation for the future of tourism and hospitality work in Canada,” said Don Cleary, President of Marriott Hotels of Canada. “This new and innovative partnership offers training to the Marriott associates of tomorrow and we look forward to launching it across Canada, changing young peoples’ lives and helping to propel local economies across the country.”
Globally, the hospitality industry is expected to support 126 million jobs over the next ten years, causing the demand for talent to outpace talent supply. In a context where, globally, over half of the population is under 30 and where youth unemployment is twice the level of adults, developing meaningful and sustainable employment for young people under 30 is essential.
This employment initiative reflects Marriott’s commitment to provide opportunity and supports its sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction.
