Seattle – 11 October 2016
Early October, the Washington Hospitality Association hosted a hiring event in Seattle. In partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services (DSHS) Employment Pipeline Region 2 and MOTIF, Washington Hospitality was able to provide community members with valuable employment opportunities. In just one day, more than 65 deserving individuals were given new jobs.
“From first job to lifelong career, our industry is a pipeline for employment. We care about lifting people up and giving them the opportunities we were once given. With this event we were really trying to pave the way for people who often have roadblocks to success, like a lack of transportation or childcare, with good jobs and ways to get over those hurdles,” said Teran Petrina Haase, vice president of the Washington Hospitality Association.
The hiring event succeeded in uniting people in need with employers and agencies that provide employment and training. During the event participants could earn a food handlers permit, apply for Orca Lift cards and receive childcare assistance if needed. One woman could be heard exclaiming in the hall, “Yeah, I got a job! They offered it to me right on the spot and I start Tuesday!”
This is the first event of this nature hosted by the Washington Hospitality Association, however the goal is to hold similar events throughout the state. The association coordinated this event in order to highlight the good jobs within the hospitality industry and to spotlight the industry career ladder. The hospitality industry is the primary training ground for individuals needing to develop a work history and learn marketable skills. It is the largest private employer in the state and employs a total of 269,000 people.
For more information about the event, and future hiring events, please contact [email protected].
The Washington Hospitality Association is the state’s leading hospitality trade group, representing more than 6,000 members of the hotel, restaurant and hospitality industry. Formed in 2016 by a joining of forces of the Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Lodging Association, the Washington Hospitality Association supports and advocates for restaurateurs, hoteliers and related hospitality industry professionals in the state capital and communities statewide.