HIR originated as an arm of the British Columbia Hotel’s Association (BCHA).  Its role was solely focused on acting as the bargaining agent for BCHA members in collective agreement negotiations. In 1987, HIR was incorporated as a society and has since been committed to helping businesses in the hospitality sector maintain great labour relations with their employees and unions. Today HIR serves its members through collective agreement negotiation, advice and guidance on all aspects of collective agreement administration, education seminars, advocacy at the Labour Relations Board, grievance procedures, and arbitration hearings.

We provide employers with expertise and background in dealing with labour relations issues specific to the hospitality sector. This is crucial in the area of collective agreement administration where employers need advice that is based on the bargaining history behind specific provisions of agreements, past practice, and the realities of the workplace. In terms of dispute resolution, HIR has remained at the forefront by offering its members the options of expedited arbitration procedures that reduce the high costs and delay experienced with the traditional arbitration model.

The philosophy underlying the existence of HIR principally rests on the fact that employers can bargain from a greater position of strength when allied in one group. This prevents unions from singling out weaker employers in the industry in order to gain concessions that are then tabled as “industry standards” in subsequent negotiations.