The Hospitality and Tourism career cluster includes three major categories: food service; hotel management; and arts, entertainment, and recreation. Food services may be the world's most widespread and familiar industry. These establishments include all types of restaurants, from casual fast-food eateries to formal, elegant dining establishments. The food services industry comprises about 500,000 places of employment in large cities, small towns, and rural areas across the United States. With about 8.9 million wage and salary jobs in 2004, this industry ranks among the Nation's leading employers. Hotels and other accommodations are as diverse as the many family and business travelers they accommodate. The industry includes all types of lodging, from upscale hotels to RV parks. Motels, resorts, casino hotels,  bed-and-breakfast inns, and boarding houses are also included. In fact, in 2004 nearly 62,000 establishments provided overnight accommodations to suit many different needs and budgets. As leisure time and personal incomes have grown across the Nation, so has the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry. This industry includes about 115,000 establishments, ranging from art museums to fitness centers. Practically any activity that occupies a person's leisure time, excluding the viewing of motion pictures and video rentals, is part of the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry. The diverse range of activities offered by this industry can be categorized into three broad groups—live performances or events; historical, cultural, or educational exhibits; and recreation or leisure-time activities.

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS WITHIN THIS CAREER CLUSTER

Chef/ Head Cook, Food Service Manager, General/ Operations Manager, Restaurant and Food/Beverage Services.