P.E.I.'s tourism industry braces for ripple effects of Holland College program cuts

When Ricardo Salvini began his career in Prince Edward Island's tourism industry, it changed his life, he says. 

Salvini enrolled in the hotel and restaurant management program at Holland College after moving to P.E.I. six years ago. Now he's the vice-president of operations for Rodd Hotels and Resorts. 

"When I graduated four years ago, I was ready for the industry," he said. "I took a management role right after Holland College." 

Hearing that the province's main community college is phasing out the hotel and restaurant management program — as well as others that feed skilled workers into P.E.I.'s tourism industry — was "devastating," Salvini said. 

Holland College announced on April 11 that eight of its programs will be phased out because of a plunge in international student tuition revenue, and three more will be downsized for the upcoming school year. The news has caused concern for the tourism industry — one of the Island's biggest economic drivers. 

Cuts to programs like hotel and restaurant management, marketing and advertising, and travel tourism and events will mean at least 100 skilled workers per year won't be available for the industry in the short term, Salvini said. 

With four properties on P.E.I., Salvini said his company hires between eight and 12 students from Holland College every year. Now, it's bracing for the impact of not having those educated and trained employees available to hire. 

"Without that skilled worker, it will demand more from the hotel business and training," he said. "When you receive a student with a good base, like the ones that come from Holland, you can focus more on management skills to train them in other things that will speed up their career." 

The Tourism Association of P.E.I. shares Salvini's concerns about the ripple effects of the program cuts. 

"We rely so heavily on those programs, and tourism is so important here on Prince Edward Island," said Corryn Clemence, the CEO of TIAPEI. 

She said the programs at Holland College "are great feeders for our industry when it comes to skilled and knowledgeable workers," adding that the curriculum is geared around what the industry is looking for. 

Clemence said she understands the program cuts are tied to the federal government's changes to student work permit eligibility, but that doesn't make dealing with the consequences of the decision any less challenging. 

We've had some incredible international students that have come through those programs who are now big contributors in our industry and our communities, and valuable, valuable professionals for us," she said.  

Clemence said the effects of the federal immigration changes are tougher in P.E.I. because tourism is so critical to the province's economy.