From dialogue to delivery: How the Dutch Hospitality Pact became a blueprint for labour market collaboration

Across Europe, the tourism and hospitality sector is grappling with workforce shortages, changing skills demands, and the challenge of preparing talent for an increasingly digital and people-centred future. Through PANTOUR, National and Regional Skills Partnerships (NRSPs) have emerged as powerful mechanisms to bring together industry, education, and policymakers around a common goal: building a stronger and more future-ready workforce. Among the twelve NRSPs established and supported through PANTOUR, the Dutch Hospitality Pact stands out as a particularly innovative example of collaboration in action.

 

Rather than creating another discussion platform, the Hospitality Pact was designed around a simple principle: every year, stakeholders work together to deliver a tangible, impactful project that directly addresses a pressing workforce challenge. The result is a partnership model that is practical, action-oriented, and built for long-term sustainability.

Turning labour market intelligence into real-world impact

Coordinated by the Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (CELTH) and Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas), the Hospitality Pact brings together tourism and hospitality businesses, industry associations, educational institutions, and public authorities in a shared effort to strengthen the Dutch tourism and hospitality workforce. Industry stakeholders identify the challenges they face. These questions are translated into strategic priorities. Research is commissioned and co-funded by sector partners. Findings are shared with decision-makers and employers. The resulting insights inform action and implementation, before feeding directly into the next cycle of research and collaboration.

 

This creates a continuous loop where knowledge is transformed into action, ensuring that every activity undertaken by the partnership is directly relevant to the needs of the sector. Most importantly, it prevents the partnership from becoming what many stakeholders describe as a “talking group”. Every initiative is designed to deliver a concrete outcome that provides value to participants and the wider industry.

 

The hospitality labour market monitor

The first major output of the Hospitality Pact demonstrates exactly how this model works in practice. Inspired by the Sectoral Skills Intelligence Monitor (SSIM), developed through PANTOUR, the partnership launched the Hospitality Labour Market Monitor, a comprehensive initiative aimed at understanding the workforce challenges and opportunities facing the Dutch hospitality sector. Developed through close cooperation between industry associations, educational institutions, financial partners, and knowledge organisations, the Monitor combines labour market data with qualitative insights from employers across different hospitality subsectors. The first Hospitality Pact labour market report with insights for the Dutch hospitalitysector is published in May 2026.

The findings revealed critical challenges that resonate across Europe. While technological transformation continues to reshape the sector, employers increasingly emphasise the importance of human-centred skills. Empathy, communication, conflict management, and the ability to create meaningful guest experiences are becoming just as important as technical expertise. The research also highlighted specific gaps among younger workers, particularly in professional communication, handling difficult conversations, reading social cues, and customer interaction skills.

By translating these insights into practical recommendations, the Monitor provides employers, educators, and policymakers with an evidence-based foundation for workforce planning, curriculum development, talent attraction, and skills development.

 

Building bridges between education, industry and policy

One of the most significant achievements of the Hospitality Pact is its ability to connect stakeholders who traditionally operate in separate spheres. Through the partnership, hospitality businesses gain direct access to research and skills intelligence that can support strategic workforce decisions. Educational institutions receive up-to-date information on changing industry needs, helping ensure that programmes remain relevant and future-oriented. Policymakers benefit from a stronger evidence base for labour market and skills policies. This collaborative approach has created a shared understanding of the sector’s most pressing workforce challenges and established a common language for discussing solutions. The partnership demonstrates how effective cooperation can move beyond consultation and become a genuine driver of change.

 

A sustainable model beyond project funding

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Hospitality Pact is its approach to sustainability. Rather than relying solely on project funding, the partnership operates through a co-funding model in which stakeholders actively invest in the research and initiatives they consider valuable. This creates both financial sustainability and a strong sense of ownership among participants. The model aligns perfectly with one of PANTOUR’s key ambitions: ensuring that the impact of National and Regional Skills Partnerships continues long after project funding has ended. By embedding collaboration, evidence generation, and shared investment into its structure, the Hospitality Pact has created a framework that can continue delivering value for years to come.

 

A best practice for Europe

The Dutch Hospitality Pact illustrates the transformative potential of National and Regional Skills Partnerships when they are built around clear objectives, tangible outcomes, and strong stakeholder ownership. It demonstrates how PANTOUR’s skills intelligence methodologies, collaborative approach, and long-term vision can be translated into practical action at national level. More than a partnership, the Hospitality Pact has become a living example of how tourism stakeholders can work together to address skills shortages, strengthen workforce resilience, and prepare for the future of hospitality. As PANTOUR enters its final phase, the Hospitality Pact stands as a powerful reminder that lasting impact is created not through discussion alone, but through collaboration, commitment, and action.