Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has launched the London Hospitality Skills Strategy to boost opportunities in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.

The strategy – prepared by sector skills council People1st – sets out a 10-point priority plan to address the current deficit in the training and qualifications of the sector’s staff and customer service levels.

Central to the initiative is the introduction of the Skills Passport scheme, allowing employees or would-be employees to build up an online record of their skills, experience and qualifications for perusal by employers across the sector.

Livingstone said: “We are expecting a huge increase in the many millions of tourists who currently visit our capital and we must grasp the opportunity to ensure we offer a first class welcome to everyone.

“But we must all continue working together to ensure that we give all Londoners the skills they need so they too can benefit from the 2012 Games and make a real contribution to the capital’s economic prosperity.”

Sara Edwards, vice president of human resources of the Maybourne Hotel Group, added: “Like all London hotels, we are eager to face up to the challenges offered by the arrival of the Olympics. We welcome the London Skills Strategy and as an organisation we have pledged our support by agreeing to introduce UK Skills Passports to our employees.”