The Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC) is pleased to announce that Joe Baker will be joining their team effective June 15 as Systems Leadership and Integrated Strategy Advisor. This newly created role was designed to support the OTEC senior team in their collaborative role in tourism and hospitality workforce recovery alongside numerous industry and association partner organizations.
“The unprecedented ripple-effect of COVID-19 through this sector has required us to take a comprehensive, responsive approach to provide pandemic recovery to hundreds of thousands of affected workers,” said Adam Morrison, President and CEO, OTEC. “Joe’s industry and advocacy expertise will be a game-changer in terms of our ability to provide rapid response to this hard-hit sector. The work ahead will be critical to the sustained recovery of the tourism industry and the resilience of the tourism workforce.”
“OTEC has played a pivotal role in tourism industry workforce development for many years,” said Joe Baker. “There could not be a more critical time for our industry to rely on OTEC and its partners to help tourism and hospitality workers as well as businesses re-invent themselves for the next new normal. With OTEC’s partnership and innovation strategy, Tourism 2.0 will emerge more dynamic and resilient than ever.”
A vocal advocate for the tourism industry, Joe brings 20 years of combined hospitality operations and tourism education leadership experience to OTEC. Most recently as Dean of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts at Centennial College, Joe transformed the School over the last six years, during which time enrollment more than doubled, solidifying its reputation as one of Canada’s premier destinations for tourism industry focused education. Joe serves on the Board of Directors with Tourism HR Canada and TIAO, recently stepping down from OTEC’s board to accept this role.
“These collaborative relationships are critical as we pull together with many organizations to re-start the tourism industry in Ontario and across Canada,” said Morrison.