that problem. Many of our staff have been here for 10, 20, even 30 plus years. We are blessed with some of the most amazing hospitality professionals in the industry.” Other establishments may have difficulty maintaining staff, but the Old Orchard Inn has the challenge of keeping up with the demand to grow their staff. High- ly engaged in finding quality hospitality workers, the inn is looking to bring in new staff from other coun- tries through its immigration program. Recognizing that hospitality starts at home, the inn is on a mission to ensure a positive, inclusive, and diverse work cul- ture for its staff. “We try to go above and beyond for our staff because we want to set that example and have them provide that same level of service for our guests. We have folks here from all over the world who identify in different ways- everybody is welcome to celebrate that and be a part of our team. It brings a lot of enlightenment and culture into the workplace.” The inn also partners with the NSCC Kingstec Cam- pus, providing paid practicums for students enrolled in the culinary program. The practicum offers the po- tential for ongoing work with the inn and is a way to keep local talent employed within the province. “It has been a wonderfully successful thing for us to do. Last year we brought in seven students for their work practicum and six of them are still working here today. We have staffed our kitchen with a handful of students who have the drive and desire to produce an amazing plate. Our youth are the way of the future. We see so many of them leaving for other opportuni- ties out of province and we’re doing what we can to keep that talent here.” Giving back to the community is important to the Old Orchard Inn and in 2023, they collaborated with the Valley Regional Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Lights, hosting its donor appreciation night.
“We try to go above and beyond for our staff because we want to set that example and have them provide that same level of service for our guests.”
“There is a strong connection to the community within ownership and management. We'd like to do a couple of collaborations with the foundation and are hoping to get to the point where we're able to help them do some substantial fundraising.
At the end of the day, The Old Orchard Inn is champion- ing for the success of the Annapolis Valley while being
78 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 24 ISSUE 2
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