P.E.I. tourism operators in Cavendish say staffing biggest challenge for 2022

May 10, 2022

0 1 5 minutes read

CAVENDISH, P.E.I. — Operators in one in all P.E.I.’s busiest tourism areas aren’t anxious about whether or not guests will return this summer time as a lot as they’re about assembly the demand.

Paul Larkin, who has run Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant in Cavendish together with his spouse, Linda, for the previous 33 years, mentioned they’ll be investing closely in coaching new employees after dropping key workers who selected to maneuver on through the previous two years resulting from uncertainty across the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We misplaced 5 key employees over the past 12 months and solely changed one which we really feel is the same as the worth to among the ones who’ve left, so we’re in a coaching mode this 12 months,’’ Larkin instructed SaltWire Community in an interview at his restaurant on Could 4.

That’s why he plans to rent folks upfront of the June 3 opening and pay them whereas they’re being skilled.

“Our labour prices in June may be manner out of whack, however for those who don’t pay them you don’t have them, and for those who don’t work with them and prepare them then, when it does get busy, they don’t know what to do. Our labour prices run increased than they need to, however I simply inform my accountants that’s the way in which it’s. It prices some huge cash to coach employees.’’

Paul Larkin, who co-owns Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant in Cavendish, said training new staff will be among the challenges the business will have this season. - Dave Stewart — Paul Larkin, who co-owns Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant in Cavendish, mentioned coaching new employees can be among the many challenges the enterprise could have this season. – Dave Stewart

Larkin added that they’re nonetheless brief two employees for the breakfast shift, so that will imply limiting the variety of seats they open.

“We’ve bought 80 seats in right here and we could solely serve 50 folks for breakfast and that’s it. One factor we aren’t going to do is fill the place with 150 folks, which incorporates the (outside) deck, and have (prospects) ready two hours for a meal. They may as nicely flip round if there’s a lineup and go someplace else.’’

Larkin, who mentioned Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant will keep open till Thanksgiving weekend this 12 months for the primary time, mentioned staffing is very necessary within the food-service business.

“I worry if we don’t handle our operations correctly, we’re going to piss folks off,” he mentioned. “The food-service business, to me, is not like another business … (as a result of) individuals who come via the door of a meals institution don’t care if the prepare dinner or the dishwashers didn’t present up, they need to sit down and have their meal in a well timed style.”

Tracey Singleton, who co-owns Cavendish Bosom Buddies Cottages and Suites, said the upcoming summer is looking strong, as is the shoulder season. - Dave Stewart — Tracey Singleton, who co-owns Cavendish Bosom Buddies Cottages and Suites, mentioned the upcoming summer time is wanting robust, as is the shoulder season. – Dave Stewart

Extra coaching

Tracey Singleton, who runs Cavendish Bosom Buddies Cottages and Suites together with her husband, Kenny, mentioned they’ll even be coaching new employees.

“We have been scrambling to seek out employees, particularly through the pandemic,” Singleton mentioned. “Individuals had taken on different jobs in different industries as a result of tourism was so unsure. We couldn’t assure begin dates or what number of hours we gave them, so we noticed lots of people who left the business on account of that.”

Singleton mentioned Bosom Buddies will make use of 9 folks because it at all times does and can probably rent a tenth as a result of it’s extending its season.

“We’ve bought three returning employees and we’ll have to rent six to seven new employees, so we’ll prepare these folks. Some are new to the business. That’s a problem once you’re used to working with loads of repeat employees.”

However the demand for lodging is bouncing again in a giant manner.

Scrolling via her laptop computer, Singleton mentioned the enterprise is sort of bought out for July and August, and calls proceed to come back in for Could, June and September.

Stephen Flaherty, who handles maintenance for Cavendish Bosom Buddies Cottages and Suites, works on getting the children’s playground ready on May 4. - Dave Stewart — Stephen Flaherty, who handles upkeep for Cavendish Bosom Buddies Cottages and Suites, works on getting the kids’s playground prepared on Could 4. – Dave Stewart

Optimistic

SaltWire spent the day speaking to varied operators within the space and the consensus amongst them is unanimous – the upcoming season is predicted to be the strongest prior to now three years. All agree that visitation this summer time probably received’t bounce again straight away to pre-pandemic ranges, however they do assume this summer time would be the strongest one since 2019.

Matthew Jelley, president of Maritime Fun Group, which owns various sights in Cavendish, mentioned there’s sufficient optimism that his firm is investing in new rides for its largest two properties – Shining Waters Household Enjoyable Park and Sandspit.

“We’re targeted on reopening and beginning that street again to one thing that appears like 2019,’’ Jelley mentioned. “We notice there’s nonetheless an extended street forward.’’

Jelley mentioned enterprise on the Maritime Enjoyable Group sights was down 70 to 75 per cent in 2020 and 30 to 34 per cent in 2021.

“So, there was some restoration. The entire issues that made 2018 and 2019 banner years in tourism aren’t all going to be again at 100 per cent straight away,’’ Jelley mentioned as he walked the grounds of the amusement park.

Jelley added the previous two years haven’t solely been onerous on companies however staff as nicely.

“That’s why we’ll be creating new development and coaching alternatives,’’ he mentioned. “That’s positively a part of our HR technique.’’

Matthew Jelley, president of Maritime Fun Group, which owns a number of attractions in Cavendish, inspects part of a new pirate ship children’s ride that will be coming to Shining Waters Family Fun Park this season. - Dave Stewart — Matthew Jelley, president of Maritime Enjoyable Group, which owns various sights in Cavendish, inspects a part of a brand new pirate ship youngsters’s experience that can be coming to Shining Waters Household Enjoyable Park this season. – Dave Stewart

Fared nicely

Marshall McMahon, the top professional on the Eagles Glenn of Cavendish golf course, mentioned his business really fared higher than anticipated through the pandemic.

“What we discovered (in 2020) was there was an enormous uptake within the sport,” McMahon mentioned. “Most of it was ladies. We noticed a giant inflow in feminine participation within the sport. I additionally seen lots of people who performed years in the past got here again to the sport.”

Chris Croken, common supervisor of Eagles Glenn, mentioned the course is attempting to maintain up with the demand for the summer time. Already in 2022, golfers are out on the course.

“We anticipate it to be a busy season, if not the busiest season ever for golf,” Croken mentioned. “However, we would like a pleasant steadiness of members and inexperienced payment’ers. June is wanting insanely busy already. And, the summer time months, with the eating places and parks coming again, will simply carry extra folks. September is beginning to guide up, too. We anticipate report numbers throughout the board between members, inexperienced charges (bought) and complete rounds performed.”

Stephen Arsenault of Summerside prepares to tee off at Green Gables golf club in Cavendish on May 4. - Dave Stewart — Stephen Arsenault of Summerside prepares to tee off at Inexperienced Gables golf membership in Cavendish on Could 4. – Dave Stewart

Nevertheless, all the operators SaltWire spoke to are additionally cautious as a lot as they’re optimistic, saying if the previous two years has taught them something it’s issues can change shortly.

All of them mentioned the federal authorities’s wage subsidy in addition to provincial reduction applications stored them afloat the previous two years however have been unanimous in saying they’re simply as pleased to go it alone from right here.

“I can be fairly excited to not be counting on these applications,” Singleton mentioned. “I need to be self-reliant.”

“I’m wanting ahead to not being concerned with these applications,” Jelley agreed.

“We’re on our personal, and it’s going to be a busy 12 months,” Larkin mentioned.

By the numbers

Following are tourism visitation numbers from the final three years and what’s anticipated this 12 months:

1,632,500 – 2019
532,600 – 2020
651,100 – 2021
1.2 million, projected for 2022

Dave Stewart is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. @DveStewart

Source link