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By Brent DeRaad
President & CEO
Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its 2024 Texas job predictions in mid-February and predicted that the Leisure & Hospitality sector will lead the way with 5.2% growth this year.
Visitation numbers are flat throughout the U.S., including in the Metroplex, but rising hotel room rates and higher prices to dine out and for consumer goods are driving more industry revenue. This is allowing hotels, restaurants and attractions to finally hire more workers as growing numbers enter or return to the workforce.
The February 13, 2024 opening of the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center added 400 jobs with more to come as the Drury Plaza Hotel will open in Arlington this summer.
Jobs in leisure, sports and hospitality include everything from serving customers in a variety of situations, to sales, engineering, culinary, accounting/finance, human resources, and much more.
Tarrant County College’s Southeast campus offers a Hospitality Management program that prepares students to be entry-level supervisors in food service, hotel operations, convention and event management, travel and tourism, and entertainment venues.
Meanwhile, the University of Texas Arlington offers 40 micro credential certificates in 29 areas. The credentials are offered at no cost to UTA students, employees and alumni and can prepare them quickly to work in emerging industries.
So, whether you are with a local tourism/hospitality company that’s looking to hire, or you are a job seeker wanting to explore a career in those areas, it looks like 2024 may be your year.
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