TORONTO ― The Ontario Hostelry Institute presented its annual Top 30 Under 30 awards Wednesday, celebrating the future leaders of the province’s hospitality industry. More than 130 guests, including recipients and their nominators, operators, suppliers and media came out to support the initiative, which celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Speaking to the crowd of well-wishers congregated in the Atrium of Toronto’s George Brown College, Charles Grieco, who co-chairs the Top 30 Under 30 Selection Committee, along with Bruce McAdams, assistant professor, School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, University of Guelph, kicked off the festivities and spoke of the importance of celebrating tomorrow’s leaders. Susan Somerville, dean of Humber College, made the keynote address to the winners, stressing the importance of the industry to work together to create excellence.
Somerville encouraged the winners to be guided by passion. “You are the guiding stars; each and every one of you stands apart.” And, with 9,000 hotels and 72,000 restaurants across the country, as well as a projected labour shortage in future years, Somerville said the opportunities for employment are endless with help from industry members. “The industry has to create room for the advancement of these shining stars,” she told operators. And, she urged educators to ask themselves, “What can we do as educators to keep them in the industry?”
Finally, Somerville suggested winners “pay it forward and support others to grow in the industry. Play to your strengths, love what you do. Find work that you love so much you can’t wait to get out of bed.”
Check out the May issue of F&H for an inside look at the Top 30 Under 30 winners.
