{"id":1166,"date":"2018-02-28T16:38:54","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T21:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/business-educational-information\/?p=1166"},"modified":"2023-06-23T12:43:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T16:43:28","slug":"hospitality-and-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/business-educational-information\/hospitality-and-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"SPC Hospitality & Tourism Expo Showcases Industry’s Diversity, Positivity"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 20 employers met with students at the Hospitality and Tourism<\/a> Expo held Feb. 20 at the St. Petersburg College Seminole Campus<\/a>. In offering tips, employers shared some of the traits and characteristics they look for among prospective hires.<\/p>\n

So, What are<\/em> Employers Looking for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEmployers are always looking for those smart and hardworking people,\u201d explained Jacqueline Meyer, Training and Development Coordinator for Levy Restaurants. \u201cBut what I love about Levy is that they also focus on you as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacqueline Meyer was a recent Stetson University graduate who found herself with Levy Restaurants after graduation. A Psychology and Public Health major, Meyer grew to love the idea of hospitality after learning more about the company’s culture.\u00a0 \u201cThey genuinely hire nice people. That is something they are always looking for.”<\/p>\n

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\"Levy<\/a>
Levy Restaurants representatives discussing career opportunities with an #SPCollege student.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/blockquote>\n

But being kind isn’t everything – when asked about the most important trait in hiring, Meyer also emphasized positivity. \u201cPositivity and a good attitude are a huge part of it. If you are positive, I feel like more people are drawn to you, and you may have a better opportunity to learn more about the field you\u2019re interested in because more people are willing to teach you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is a Positive Outlook All you Need?<\/h5>\n

No, but it is a golden standard. Keynote Speaker Jim Burns, Vice President and Managing Director of Grande Lakes Orlando, shared some insight on the industry today.<\/p>\n

\u201cHospitality represents diversity,” said Burns, “there are currently more women and minorities within the industry’s leadership than any other industry in the United States.”<\/p>\n

Due to the nature of the service industry, many employees are multilingual. Approximately a third have bachelor’s degrees, and many are often strong in technical writing, critique, and linguistics. These strengths work alongside defining characteristics shared by every employee:<\/p>\n

“Energy and character are some of the most important considerations while building a relationship as an employer,\u201d he explained. Employees’ positivism, sensibility, and pride enrich the warmth found within the Hospitality and Tourism industry.<\/p>\n

This might seem like a lot, so to make the journey a little less daunting, Burns shared five \u201cwords of wisdom\u201d for aspiring Hospitality and Tourism students to follow:<\/p>\n