Requirements of Zagreb restaurateurs: e-vignettes for temporary employment and tax and administrative relief

The Zagreb Catering Forum, organized by the Zagreb Catering Association and the Zagreb Independent Catering Association, for the 16th time brought together key stakeholders in the catering sector, numerous experts, entrepreneurs and representatives of institutions who discussed the current challenges facing the sector, with a special emphasis on issues workforce and formal education for hospitality occupations.

"Hospitality is a serious business that requires constant adaptation, investment in quality and lifelong education. Our cooperation with the City of Zagreb, relevant ministries and institutions has resulted in solving many of the problems we face, but the key message of this Forum is: 'Let's start on time'. It is necessary to urgently invest in the education of new generations because this is the key to solving the workforce problem", he said Franz Letica, the president of the Zagreb Catering Association, who in his opening speech emphasized the importance of the joint action of all stakeholders for the maintenance and improvement of the catering industry. 

The key issue for the future of the hospitality industry is the education of young people

The Forum program included two panel discussions on hot topics. The first panel discussion, entitled "Workforce and education in catering - challenges and opportunities", dealt with the issue of labor shortage that has been plaguing the Croatian hospitality sector for several years. Luka Čirko, Director of the Directorate for Labor Market and Employment in the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, Ante Lončar, Director of the Croatian Employment Service, Alen Jerkunica, Director of the ASPIRA Polytechnic, Monika Belle, Senior Advisor for Tourism and Hospitality at the Agency for vocational education and adult education, and Jurica Protić, president of the Zagreb Independent Association of Restaurateurs, as participants in the first panel discussion, discussed how the demand for labor can be met, but also how education can play a key role in solving this problem. Special emphasis was placed on the necessity of modernizing educational programs and better cooperation between employers and educational institutions.

The second panel discussion, "What can we spice up the gastronomic scene in Zagreb?", focused on the promotion of Zagreb as a gastronomic destination. The discussion highlighted the importance of connecting indigenous cuisine with modern trends and the use of digital platforms in the promotion of catering facilities. Panel participants, Robert Pende, Director of the Directorate for Entrepreneurship Development, Investments and Competitiveness of the Tourism Economy at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Petra Maršić Buljan, Director of the Promotion and Business Tourism Sector at the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, Damir Krešić, Director of the Institute for Tourism, Karin Mimica , an expert in destination gastronomic branding, Ana Lisak, an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, and Janja Benić, a gastro blogger, emphasized that digital marketing has become a key tool in attracting guests and strengthening the recognition of Zagreb as an attractive destination.

Requirements of the Zagreb Catering Association according to the competent authorities

At the end of the Forum, the representatives of the Zagreb Catering Association announced a series of important conclusions, that is, requests that will be sent to the relevant institutions. Among requirements to the City of Zagreb of:

• the inclusion of catering representatives in the formation of new Public Calls as part of the Program for encouraging the development of crafts, small and medium-sized enterprises in the City of Zagreb 2024 - 2030,
• cooperation with representatives of restaurateurs regarding the use of terraces and other public areas,
• promotion of the gastronomic offer of Zagreb restaurateurs and
• participation of catering representatives in the drafting and implementation of the Regulations related to the Tourism Act.

Requests to the Government of the Republic of Croatia of:

• implementation of e-vignette for temporary employment,
• tax relief for the hospitality sector,
• inspection supervision of unfair competition i
• abolition of commodity accounting.

Special awards to women in hospitality

The Forum of Zagreb restaurateurs was also marked by the awarding of special awards for work in the profession, and for the first time awards were given in all categories exclusively to women in the hospitality industry, which was intended to emphasize their contribution and success in the industry.

Daniela Gajski received the Hospitality Tradition award for preserving and continuing a long-standing family tradition. Ana Grgić Tomić was recognized as a top gastronomy chef for her innovative approach and passionate work that raises the standards of gastronomy. Ana Lisak received the award for manager in the hospitality industry, and in the category Contribution to the development of the hospitality industry, the award was given to Žaklina Troskot. The award Contribution to the promotion of the hospitality profession went to Karin Mimica, while the award for 30 years of excellence and quality in the field of hospitality went to Ljerka Nauković.

The forum ended with a gastronomic exhibition where Zagreb restaurateurs presented a variety of local specialties, which closed this year's edition with a wealth of flavors and an opportunity for informal socializing among the participants.

Photo source: Zagreb Hospitality Association