Intercultural Digital Hospitality Skills Accelerator Project
Upskilling hospitality workers, diversifying the workforce and increasing business competitiveness.
Project Overview
Updated January 28, 2025.
The Problem
British Columbia’s hospitality industry is highly competitive and constantly evolving with a growing demand for workers with digital skills post the COVID-19 pandemic. Upskilling existing hospitality workers, as well as addressing the need to diversify the industry’s workforce, is critical to its ongoing competitiveness.
How We Are Solving It
Led by the Surrey Board of Trade, this program provides foundational and functional digital skills training to under-represented and racialized individuals seeking employment opportunities or transitioning to employment in the digital hospitality industry. Participants in B.C.’s Metro Vancouver/Coast, Fraser Valley, Thompson-Okanagan and Vancouver Island regions are able to obtain skills through intercultural digital hospitality training followed by supported work experiences.
The program seeks to address workforce challenges in the hospitality industry while improving digital skills of workers, diversifying the workforce and increasing business competitiveness through the following areas of focus:
- Fostering intercultural understanding by providing opportunities for workers from diverse backgrounds to learn from each other, share experiences and develop greater cultural awareness.
- Upskilling workers in digital technologies and tools to increase employability and support career growth.
- Supporting diversity in the industry and employment of underrepresented groups, specifically immigrants, women, Indigenous peoples and visible minorities.
- Enhancing business competitiveness by improving digital capabilities and competencies in digital marketing, e-commerce and customer relationship management.
- Creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that can continue to support the development of digital skills in the hospitality industry.
The Result
In 2023, DIGITAL initial co-investment supported training to over 120 participants across the Metro Vancouver/Coast, Fraser Valley, Thompson-Okanagan and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia; with just under 100 participants successfully graduating from the program. 80% of participants found employment following graduation or are continuing their education and training.
In 2025, we announced our continued co-investment to support providing foundational and functional digital skills to another 180 underrepresented participants seeking employment or transitioning to employment in the digital hospitality industry. Customized programming will be expanded into new communities within the Kootenay, Metro Vancouver/Coast, Fraser Valley, Thompson-Okanagan, Vancouver Island regions and Prince George.
Project Lead
Project Partners
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"BC’s hospitality industry is highly competitive and constantly evolving with a growing demand for workers with digital skills post-pandemic. Upskilling existing hospitality workers, as well as addressing the need to diversify the industry’s workforce, is critical to its ongoing competitiveness.”
President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade -
“Supporting equity and diversity within Canada’s technology sector is crucial to our country’s continued growth and prosperity. We’re proud to support organizations like the Surrey Board of Trade in improving the digital skills of hospitality workers, diversifying the workforce and increasing business competitiveness in these regions.”
Director, Digital Learning Lab at DIGITAL -
"Western Community College is committed to reshaping communities through fast-tracking digital hospitality skills training and cultivating digital proficiency in the hospitality industry."
President, Western Community College