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Central Florida is known for its hospitality and is a giant in the global travel and tourism industry. Nearly 40% of Central Florida’s workforce is driven by the hospitality and tourism industry, which looks set to create a path to highly sought-after careers and opportunities.
However, many leaders in our community have begun to share common misconceptions about positions within the hospitality industry. Perceptions include lower wages compared to other industries, limited career advancement, lack of advancement opportunities, and unreasonable working hours and benefits.
Contrary to these beliefs, careers in the hospitality and tourism industry, including in Central Florida, are booming and filled with opportunity. Job seekers can find life-changing benefits, high-paying jobs, and master customer service, management, and many other transferable skills that will continue to propel them toward purposeful, lifelong careers.
After recovering from the epidemic, Central Florida welcomed 74 million tourists in 2022, and its economic total reached a record high of $87.6 billion. With a surge of this magnitude, jobs and opportunities throughout the region come to prominence and pave the way for individuals to thrive.
To help change that narrative, the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association (CFHLA) and the Central Florida Career Resource Center (CSCF) recently teamed up to host the first-ever Hospitality and Tourism State Summit in Central Florida. Held in the heart of the world’s premier theme parks, hotels and resorts, this summit brings together industry leaders, community experts, local media and elected officials to engage in dialogue and develop mission-driven solutions to help change the perception of today’s hospitality industry industry. During the summit, experts also provided in-depth analysis of the current economic impact and workforce trends in the restaurant and travel industry.
With nearly 450,000 hospitality professionals working in Central Florida, understanding perceptions, challenges and opportunities will help chart a path forward to foster new interest in hospitality careers.
In addition, Central Florida is home to several Fortune 500 companies and globally recognized brands, as well as many successful start-ups and small family-owned businesses that rely on the industry for economic success and are eager to find the same talent locally and skills. Hospitality industry.
Where do we go next? CFHLA and CSCF started the conversation and are now urging leaders and experts to collaborate with us and be part of the solution to redirect the conversation and bring more great talent to the hospitality industry. By partnering with other industries, the hospitality and travel industry will gain access to a talent pool with transferable skills that are applicable across the industry. Management positions in different industries provide people with team leadership, crisis management and customer relationship management skills. Construction companies provide hotels and resorts with skilled talent in event design planning, project coordination and aesthetics. These industries, and many others, allow companies to recruit talent from diverse backgrounds.
Hospitality and tourism will remain a key driver of economic growth and job creation in Central Florida. That’s why CFHLA and CSCF are eager to collaborate and continue to push the hospitality industry forward. By elevating this dynamic industry and creating life-changing careers, we can build an even more incredible and authentic region in Central Florida and beyond.
Pam Nabors is President and CEO of CareerSource of Central Florida. Robert Agrusa is president and CEO of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association.
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