The third annual HOST Saskatchewan - Hospitality, Outfitters & Tourism Conference & Trade Show was a success with nearly 340 eager delegates, knowledgeable presenters, and enthusiastic trade show exhibitors from across the province and Canada in attendance.  This year, HOST Saskatchewan took place from March 14-15 at TCU Place in Saskatoon.

 

STEC had one of the most impressive and entertaining trade show booths at this year's event.  The booth was designed as a theatre with a movie screen hidden behind black curtains, fresh popcorn popping, movie posters, and even a life-size Oscar!

 

Visitors to the booth were entertained with four informative, yet comical, videos about a recently promoted man who must hire and train new summer recruits.  The four part movie series ends with the man's boss asking if he's interested in "raising the bar" to become an Employer of Choice.

 

The four videos were directed in-house by Kari Wells and include: The Promotion, The Interview, Training Day, and Employer of Choice.  Click here to view the videos.

 

On the second day of the conference, STEC recognized four tourism businesses for successfully becoming Employers of Choice with an award.  Congratulations to the Days Inn, Regina; Gold Eagle Lodge, North Battleford; Prairieland Park, Saskatoon; and Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon!

 

This was followed by STEC's participation in two presentations throughout the day, First Impressions and Lasting Impressions. 

 

In First Impressions, Chelsea Willness from Brock University, represented STEC on a panel with Malcolm Anderson and Claudia Baptiste from the Gold Eagle Lodge to discuss research into how potential job applicants might perceive a company and the impact these perceptions have on a business' recruitment process. 

 

In Lasting Impressions, Darcy Acton sat on a panel with Jill Little, Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association, and Joyce Bodnar, Radisson Hotel Saskatoon, to discuss seven key areas of staff development and how employers can make these areas work for them in order to become Employers of Choice.

 

View pictures of the STEC booth on Facebook!