Lion NZ expands hospo wellbeing programme
Lion New Zealand is expanding its Healthy Hospo health and wellbeing programme to offer in-person events around New Zealand in 2022.
Lion has been running Healthy Hospo as a pilot programme since 2020 in order to tailor it to the New Zealand market and is now launching in-person events in major centres around the country, alongside online workshops.
The first live events for 2022 are a series of workshops focused on breathing and relaxation to be held in Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from 2-10 May.
Healthy Hospo is a free programme for pub, bar, café and restaurant workers with interactive educational workshops and special events throughout the year on sleep, mental health, social connection, exercise, nutrition, and leadership.
Healthy Hospo Programme Manager Lorietta Bahr says the vision is to help create a healthier, happier and more sustainable hospitality industry. “We feel our purpose is more important than ever as the hospitality industry starts to rebuild following two very challenging years.
“The majority of operators run small-to-medium sized businesses with limited resources and what works for nine-to-fivers won’t always work for people in hospitality who work long and unsociable hours. Lion New Zealand, as the largest supplier to New Zealand’s hospitality industry and a hospitality venue operator itself, is in a unique position to deliver a meaningful health and wellbeing program at scale and create a wellbeing support network for people in this unique and rewarding, but often demanding industry.”
“We believe that hospitality staff around Aotearoa can benefit from mental and physical health resources like other industries do. We are excited to be launching the Healthy Hospo programme nationwide with hospitality workers anywhere in the country invited to participate in our workshops and events for free,” says Bahr.
The Healthy Hospo programme was originally developed in the UK by hospo professional Tim Etherington-Judge, who was inspired by the lack of constructive, industry-specific support when he experienced his own mental health issues. Hearing of the incredible impact the programme was having in the UK, Lion worked with Etherington-Judge to bring it to New Zealand.