Hospitality and Tourism
The hospitality industry is big business in New Jersey, where tourists pump more than $37 billion into the state’s economy each year, and where one in nine workers owes his or her job to tourism.
New Jerseyans love good food and great restaurants. With the state’s 127 miles of coastline, the beauty of the Skylands, the excitement of Atlantic City, and proximity to the “Big Apple” attracting so many visitors, opportunities abound in culinary and hospitality careers for those with the necessary skills.
Here are some of the career opportunities in this industry:
Chef
Baker
Hotel/restaurant management
Event planner
Convention services manager
Tour guide
Travel agent
Caterer
Around Our Schools
Students in the Academy of Travel and Tourism at the Cape May County Technical School are the only students in New Jersey whose classroom is a working eight-unit motel fully operated by students. The academy’s curriculum offers an in-depth look at all aspects of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry and students get a first-hand look at career possibilities in the world’s largest service industry through field trips to hotels, casinos, convention centers, amusement parks and a cruise ship.
With the beaches and casinos of Atlantic City virtually at their doorstep, the Atlantic County Institute of Technology offers students the opportunity to prepare for jobs in all aspects of the food service and hospitality industry. At the Academy of Culinary Arts and Hospitality, students receive hands-on practical experience in facilities identical to those found in the industry. Students gain real world experiences through culinary and hospitality functions held at the school and through job shadowing and internship programs offered by the school’s business partners. Academy students have opportunities to earn college credits and graduates are well-prepared for post-secondary culinary programs or direct entry into the industry.
The students and faculty at Passaic County Technical Institute know that having a first-rate culinary arts program is a tasty benefit for the entire school! Rather than having their school lunches prepared by traditional cafeteria workers, PCTI staff and students are able to eat the rewards of the culinary arts program every day.
Videos and More Information
NJ NextStop helps students and parents learn more about career interests and options, and the occupations and skills that are in demand in New Jersey. Each industry page has several videos about the jobs that people in that field do. Here’s the link for the NJ Next Stop Hospitality and Tourism Page.
The National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education (NASDCTEc) has a web site that explains what students need to know and what courses they should take in high school in order to enter specific career areas. Here’s the link for National resources for Hospitality and Tourism.
