HVS Executive Search and the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council come together to present a compensation study for hotel property positions across Canada
The median salaries for comparable position at hotels across Canada are higher in central Canada, when compared nationally, and to the western and Atlantic regions, according to a survey by HVS Executive Search.
The HVS Canadian Hotel Property Study 2012 includes compensation data from over 230 hotel properties across Canada. The findings in this first-ever report, the largest of its kind, conducted by HVS Executive Search reveal that median salaries are on average four per cent higher in Ontario and Quebec (central Canada) when compared to median national salaries. By contrast, median salaries in Atlantic Canada are on average eight per cent lower than Canadian national salaries.
“It appears that the western region is driving the median national pay rates, with on average less than a 0.5 per cent differential from national median salaries in the Canadian hotel industry,” said Paige Brewer, Senior Vice President Compensation Consulting at HVS Executive Search.
“The data varies by position, but this trend can be seen for a majority of the 33 positions covered in the survey. For example, the median base salary for a Controller in the central region is on average three per cent higher than national salaries; while the median base salary for an Executive Chef in the western region is on average one per cent higher than national salaries. The study provides valuable insights to hotel operators to ensure they make more educated pay decisions.”
Sample data from the HVS Canadian Hotel Property Study 2012:
| Position | Median National Salary | Median Western Salary | % diff from National | Median Central Salary | % diff from National | Median Atlantic Canada Salary | % diff from National |
| Controller | $74,750 | $72,986 | -2% | $77,000 | 3% | $67,938 | -9% |
| Executive Chef | $64,275 | $65,000 | 1% | $61,000 | -5% | $61,631 | -4% |
| Executive Housekeeper | $44,689 | $45,151 | 1% | $44,491 | 0% | $41,620 | -6% |
Note on regions:
Central – Ontario and Quebec
Western – Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Atlantic Canada – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador
The HVS Canadian Hotel Property Study 2012 covers 33 positions in the hotel industry representing over 1,600 incumbents. The study includes data on salaries, bonus and retirement practices. HVS Executive Search conducts compensation surveys in the hospitality industry worldwide and this is the first time they have conducted a national Canadian survey for hotels in conjunction with Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC).
Speaking on the association with HVS, Wendy Swedlove, CTHRC President said, “The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council is very pleased to have been involved in HVS’s Canadian Hotel Property Compensation Study. It is a welcome addition to the compensation information available to Canada’s hoteliers, and is also valuable to other Canadian tourism sector stakeholders, from businesses to educators, job seekers to established professionals. This study provides an important resource for developing consistent and effective human resource strategies in the sector.”
