Virginia Department of Education

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Information on this page is provided by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.

CTE Career Clusters

Hospitality & Tourism encompasses the management, marketing and operations of restaurants and other foodservices, lodging, attractions, recreation events and travel related services.

There should be a greater need for chefs and head cooks as the population grows and people’s incomes increase. It is becoming more common for consumers to demand healthier food at restaurants, cafeterias, and grocery stores, so experienced chefs will be needed to help prepare these meals. Recreation workers lead leisure activities in recreation facilities, including playgrounds, parks, camps, and aquatic centers. As more resources are put toward fighting childhood obesity, more recreation workers will be needed to help guide children through physical activities. The need for food service managers is expected to increase because people will continue to eat out during this time period, so managers will be needed to supervise food establishments. 

Employment Projections: 2016-2026*

The Hospitality & Tourism cluster, which employed approximately 486,200 Virginians in 2016, is expected to employ about 58,400 more in 2026, for a total of 544,600. Based on Trailblazers calculations using data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this represents about 10 percent growth over the decade, which exceeds the anticipated 9 percent average growth nationally among all occupations in this cluster. This cluster is also expected to have over 88,000 job openings within the commonwealth annually, which is the highest number of all clusters.

*NOTE: The methodology for classifying occupations within the cluster/pathway system has been updated since the previous data cycle (2014-24), so 2016-26 Trailblazers employment projection data may not be comparable to data from previous cycles.

For more information on occupations in the Hospitality & Tourism Cluster, visit Trailblazers – Career and Technical Education in Virginia(PDF).

What They Make...

Selected Occupation(s)	Employed in Virginia 2016	2017 Median Wage	Predominant Level of Education
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers	92,416	$18,960	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Waiters and Waitresses	70,206	$20,010	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaner	65,229	$23,650	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	33,235	$21,210	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Cooks, Restaurant	32,857	$23,590	High School Diploma & Training/Certification & Work experience
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	26,253	$33,590	High School Diploma & Work experience
Food Preparation Workers	18,834	$20,580	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Dishwashers	12,153	$19,980	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop	11,914	$19,540	High School Diploma & Training/Certification
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	11,150	$19,720	High School Diploma & Training/Certification

• Wage data: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2017.
• Employment projections data: Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Long-Term Occupational Projections, 2016-2026. 
• Predominant education level: Trailblazers through the Demographics and Workforce Section of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.

Career Cluster Planning

A resource for counselors, administrators, and educators
CTE VERSO  – includes information to help local school divisions plan and schedule instructional programs. VERSO is organized by program area, with a complete listing of courses, concentration sequences, and credentials available to students as they plan for career entry and continuing education. Users may access course information by cluster or by searching for specific courses or certifications.

Academic and Career Plans of Study

Development Information

Information and tips for instructional leaders, administrators, counselors and teachers/faculty for creating a career pathway academic and career plan of study.

• Hospitality & Tourism Cluster Information
• Checklist for Developing Career Clusters Plans of Study (Word)

Sample Academic and Career Plans of Study

School divisions are asked to develop sample plans of study based on the courses offered within their schools, the employment needs of the region, and the post-high school educational opportunities needed for these careers. Once these sample plans are developed, they can be customized to the needs of individual students so that all students have the opportunity to have an individualized academic and career plan of study.

Sample Pathway Plans of Study for Hospitality & Tourism:

• Lodging (Word)
• Recreation, Amusements & Attractions (Word)
• Restaurants and Food / Beverage Services (Word)
• Travel & Tourism (Word)
• Blank Plan of Study (with fields) (Word)

Also see Sample Plans of Study for all clusters and pathways.

Cluster Analysis Document for Virginia

Report:  Education, Employment and Earnings:  Analyzing Data from Hospitality & Tourism

Resources

• National Restaurant Association
• American Society of Travel Agents
• Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association

 

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