The Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is recognizing 31 hotels representing 5,868 guest rooms that achieved Approved Employer status in 2026 through the association’s Elevate Hotel HR & Safety Program.
Launched in 2025 with funding support from the Government of Alberta, Elevate is an industry-led initiative developed by AHLA to help Alberta hotels strengthen workplace practices, meet legal obligations, and work toward Approved Employer recognition. The program supports hotels in areas including occupational health and safety, employment standards, human rights, HR best practices, and loss prevention and risk management.
“Approved Employer recognition represents more than an achievement. It reflects the work hotels are doing to strengthen their HR and safety practices and build better workplaces for their teams. We are proud to recognize these properties for their commitment to continuous improvement and workplace excellence.”
Tracy Douglas, President & CEO, Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association.
To earn Approved Employer recognition, hotels complete a comprehensive assessment of their HR and safety practices and provide policies and procedures to validate their responses. The designation is valid for one year and requires annual maintenance reinforcing an ongoing commitment to strong workplace practices.
Elevate provides participating hotels with training, resources, tools and guidance from AHLA’s Safety and Human Resources Advisors to help them assess their practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and work toward Approved Employer recognition.
“As an employer, Elevate is an invaluable tool, allowing me to ensure our policies and procedures protect our employees, guests, and business.”
Shona Karas, Owner, Hotel 11, MOD, a Sonesta Collection.
“Being an Approved Employer goes beyond compliance with employment standards, human rights legislation and health and safety programs; it represents a genuine ongoing commitment to doing what is right for our people. We strive to create a workplace where every team member feels respected, valued, and supported, not just in policy but through our culture, our decisions, and in our everyday actions. When our team feels that sense of care and belonging, it reflects in how we show up for each other and deliver exceptional experiences for our guests.”
Donnabelle Moran, human resources business partner, Sandman Hotel Group.
“Elevate provided us the ability to acknowledge the work that has been put in by the entire team, because this is something that has to be implemented through leadership. It gives us a sense of not only confidence in the work we do every day, but also in the credit and acknowledgement that AHLA is able to give us.”
Melanie Rheaume, Director of Human resources, The Westin Calgary.
Momentum is continuing beyond Elevate’s inaugural group of 31 Approved Employers, with another 29 properties representing 3,124 rooms currently working toward the designation. Together, their participation signals growing industry buy-in and a continued commitment to strengthening HR, health and safety practices across Alberta’s hotel sector.
More information about the Elevate Hotel HR & Safety Program and Approved Employer designation can be found HERE.