The “Be Different, Choose Horeca” manifesto was signed on Monday afternoon by representatives of workers, employers, and public authorities.
It has three main ambitions: improve the image of Horeca professions, raise standards to offer quality experiences to clients, and support businesses to enhance the sector’s attractiveness. Horeca is an abbreviation for the hospitality industry, which is popular in the Benelux countries.
Laure Van Ranst, the Director-General of Horeca Forma Be Pro, explained that the manifesto serves as a roadmap for the vibrant sector, which he says continually adapts, explores, retries, and reshapes. Horeca Forma Be Pro offers both short and long training programmes to over 1,000 individuals annually.
The document aims to modernise the image of Horeca by addressing 11 commitments, including fair working conditions, inspiring management, promoting diversity and inclusion, and advocating for local and considered sourcing, to create a more supportive, innovative, and sustainable sector.
Horeca still suffers from stereotypes and struggles to attract new talents. Rodolphe Van Weyenbergh, Secretary-General of the Brussels Hotel Association (BHA), which represents 90% of the hotel industry, emphasised the importance of accurate communication about the resilient sector. It’s a sector where recruitment is active and career advancement is possible in jobs that cannot be offshored.
The campaign aims to change the perception of the general public and future professionals. Bernard Clerfayt, Brussels' Minister of Professional Training, highlighted that Horeca is a significant economic and social driver in the region, and expressed hope that the campaign will succeed in attracting new talents dedicated to the sector.
