Fatima Finnegan to Speak at the 2025 NYS Tourism Conference

Mar 13, 2025

Fatima Finnegan,VP Workforce Initiatives & Industry Relations at Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association to Speak in Canandaigua at the 2025 New York State Tourism Conference on Friday, April 15

Discover how the hospitality industry can cultivate the next generation of talent! On Friday, April 25th at the 2025 NYS Tourism Conference, Fatima Finnegan, VP of Workforce Initiatives & Industry Relations at the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, will share insights on building a strong talent pipeline through strategic partnerships with schools, mentorship programs, and industry leaders. In her session Building the Hospitality Workforce for Tomorrow: New Approaches & Opportunities, Fatima will highlight innovative approaches to engaging students, providing essential resources, and creating clear career pathways in hospitality. Attendees will gain valuable best practices for fostering collaboration between educators and industry professionals to develop a skilled and sustainable workforce.
 
Why you should attend this session:
  • Discover how to address the hospitality industry's talent shortage by leveraging mentorship programs and best practices from leading hospitality associations.
  • Gain practical strategies to build a local talent pipeline and foster long-term growth in the sector through collaboration and innovative approaches.

Key takeaways:

  • Learn about actionable strategies for creating effective mentorship programs and building strong industry partnerships to attract and retain talent.
  • Hear best practices from leading hospitality associations that you can implement in your own organization for long-term workforce development.

About Fatima

Fatima Finnegan is the Vice President of Workforce Initiatives & Industry Relations at the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), representing 5,000 members and 11,000 establishments across Ontario. With over 30 years in the hospitality industry, she specializes in talent development, workforce strategy, and fostering collaboration between industry leaders, mentorship programs, hospitality schools, educators, and innovative partnerships. Fatima works to build sustainable talent pipelines, engage with students, and implement best practices to shape the future of the sector.

Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association

The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is the largest provincial hospitality association in Canada, representing 5,000 members and 11,000 foodservice and accommodation establishments across Ontario. In collaboration with the Ontario Hostelry Institute (OHI), ORHMA plays a key role in workforce development by connecting students, hospitality schools, and educators with industry leaders. OHI – We Are Hospitality, fosters career outreach initiatives, builds leadership best practices, and strengthens the talent pipeline through mentorship and industry partnerships. Together, ORHMA and OHI support the hospitality sector by promoting professional development, skills training, and work-integrated learning opportunities, ensuring the industry’s ongoing growth and success.