On February 4, 2011, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) announced key changes to its hotel and lodging criteria for all applications submitted through the employer-driven stream, semi-skilled worker category.    
Effective April 1, 2011, Alberta Employers and Candidates in the Hotel and Lodging Industry will be subject to new industry-specific criteria regarding English language assessments, work experience and professional certification. Specifically, Alberta-based employers and candidates will need to meet the following:
Employer Criteria
As of April 1, 2011, an Alberta Employer in the hotel and lodging industry, must meet the following criteria in order to nominate a foreign national under the AINP:
  • Be a member in good standing with the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and adopt the association’s prescribed practices with respect to hiring and employing temporary foreign workers.
  • Be aware that you are eligible for a maximum number of allocations per calendar year for Food and Beverage Servers and Room Attendants based on the total number of rooms at a property.
  • Be aware that you are only eligible for one allocation per property, per calendar year for the occupation of Front Desk Agent/Clerk.
  • Have satisfactory recruitment strategies and conditions, employment policies and practices, retention and settlement in order to qualify for allocations.
Candidate Criteria
As a Candidate in the hotel and lodging industry, you must:
  • Show that you are competent in listening, reading, speaking, and writing English prior to nomination by submitting language testing results (IELTS preferred) with your application. The test results must be one of:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) that show a minimum of 4.0 in each of listening, reading, speaking, and writing; or,
    • Canadian Language Benchmark test results using an approved CLB assessment tool that shows a minimum level of 4 achieved in each of listening, reading, speaking, and writing; or,
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) computer-based total score of 137, a TOEFL internet-based total score of 47, or TOEFL paper-based total score of 457.
  • Have a total of three (3) years of work experience in a job directly related to the hotel and lodging industry (abroad and/or in Canada), as evidenced through reference letters
  • Be employed in Alberta for a minimum of six months before applying to the AINP.
Transitional Process
Prior to April 1, 2011, applications will be accepted with documentation supporting either the current criteria or the new criteria indicated above. Applications postmarked on or after April 1, 2011, will be assessed based on the new criteria only.