Is your organization adequately staffed to meet the demands of a growing tourism destination?
Do you need help finding qualified talent to fill beverage management and culinary arts positions?
The Travel & Sports Legacy Foundation (TSLF) and Tarrant County College (TCC) have developed a Hospitality Cohort Program to provide educational classes and developmental training for students interested in careers in beverage management and culinary arts. The program was created to address the extraordinary demand to fill hospitality positions in our community.
TSLF, tourism partners and supporters, will offer 10 scholarships and mentoring assistance for student participants. Students who participate in the one-year program will receive a Beverage Management Certificate, a TABC license, and developmental training.
Tourism agencies benefit directly from visitor spending in Arlington.
Tourism is an economic engine in Arlington with over 15 million visitors annually. Arlington will host several upcoming major events, concerts, and conventions in 2024 and in the future. A recent Tourism Economics Study concluded that $1.1 billion is attributed directly to visitor spending in Arlington accounting for approximately $2.9 million spent every day by visitors in Arlington.
The tourism industry was one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic. Many tourism jobs remain unfilled today.
The Hospitality Cohort Program will aid in providing job training for individuals interested in tourism jobs and careers.
TCC prepares students to work in the hospitality industry including the following companies:
- Delaware North – Globe Life Field
- Legends Hospitality – AT&T Stadium
- Fort Worth Club
- Six Flags Over Texas
- Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
- Worthington Renaissance Hotel
- Hooters
- Blackland Distillery
Program Benefits
The Hospitality Cohort Program will benefit tourism organizations including restaurants, hotels, sports venues, and related tourism agencies by helping to identify available job applicants to fill open positions.
The program will be offered to students from underserved communities who are 21 years of age or older and have demonstrated a need for financial aid, according to federal student aid guidelines. Students will gain practical experience in hospitality, customer service, mixology, and bartending through hands-on opportunities in the classroom and a workplace environment.
TSLF and TCC will identify cohort program students through collaborative support from the Center for Transforming Lives, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, veteran organizations, and other organizations that support underserved populations in our community.
Program Details
Hospitality Cohort Program participants will receive:
- A Beverage Management Certificate (22 hours of instruction)
- Work-based learning opportunity for students (students will work with tourism employers for approximately 12 weeks throughout the cohort program)
- Students will obtain a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) certification within the first two weeks of class and will be eligible to start applying for industry positions
- Tuition-free classes and mentoring program assistance (no cost to students)
- Full year of mentoring by TSLF’s certified coaches
- Core competencies proficiency testing
- Individualized developmental assessments
- Transportation stipends (certain guidelines will apply)
Employer’s Commitment
- Provide a work-based learning opportunity for a student or students to work in your organization for a minimum of 12 weeks. Students’ work hours can vary depending on their place of employment.
- Employers can hire the student during the program or after the program has ended.
- Employers will handle the employment paperwork for the student(s)/employee(s) during the 12 weeks and hiring if the employer chooses to hire the student(s) at the end of the program.
- Employer agrees to hire and employ the student(s) at a competitive wage, allowing them to support themselves and their families.
- Employer agrees to assign a manager to serve as an on-site coach for the student worker(s).
- Employer agrees to permit TSLF to take photos or videos of the student(s) while working in their place of employment.
- Employer agrees to evaluate the student(s) performance after six weeks in the program and at the conclusion of the program. Employers will provide a status report after each evaluation.
Based on findings from the TSLF Workforce Needs Assessment Study, students cited opportunities for career advancement, competitive salaries, and job security as reasons to remain in tourism jobs. View study.
Employer’s Costs: The Cohort Program class has 10 seats available. Employers agree to pay the students a competitive salary for 12 weeks. Students’ work hours can vary depending on their place of employment.
The program also offers a capstone competition, which transforms students into “Cocktail Captains,” challenging them to craft a tasty concoction to serve an invited public adult audience. The taste testers critique the product, giving students real-life experiences about how customers may react to their liquid creations. This project, plus other in-class assignments, allow students to practice their skills with teamwork, customer service and drink presentation. Upon completion of the coursework, students will be prepared to work in a fast-paced, night-life environment.”
Ann Machen, MBA
Dean, Division of Business and Technology
Tarrant County College District-Southeast Campus
The mixology program at TCC offers students not only the theory, but hands-on activities that will fine-tune their mixing skills, wine pouring techniques, and the speed of service to create a unique beverage experience.
Student enrollment for the Hospitality Cohort Program will begin soon. Classes will be held on the TCC Southeast Campus in Arlington. Employer participation in the program will be based on a first-come, first-served basis.
For class schedules and program information, contact Talia Dancer, talia.dancer@tccd.edu. To invest in this program, contact Mary German, mary@travelandsportslegacyfoundation.org . Spaces are limited.
It’s Time to Build Back Tourism Jobs!
TSLF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Donate online today.