University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Hosts Hospitality Roadshow to Address Workforce Challenges in Tourism Industry
KNOXVILLE, TN – This January, the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM) in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, hosted a Hospitality Roadshow in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association. The event gathered industry leaders, UT faculty, administrators, and key stakeholders to discuss workforce development and explore solutions to meet the growing demands of Tennessee’s hospitality and tourism sector.
Commissioner Mark Ezell of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development opened the event with a powerful address, underscoring the importance of the hospitality and tourism industry, which generated a substantial $30.6 billion for the state last year. “The hospitality and tourism industry is critical to Tennessee’s economy, not only through its contribution to our state’s budget but also in terms of job creation and tax relief for Tennesseans,” stated Commissioner Ezell.
Following the Commissioner’s remarks, RHTM department head, Junehee Kwon, presented on “Sustaining Tennessee’s Tourism: Workforce Challenges and University Partnerships.” Kwon shared exciting developments within the hospitality and tourism management program, including new curriculum initiatives, experiential learning opportunities, and efforts toward program accreditation. She also discussed the nearly completed online program designed to address industry needs. Kwon stressed the urgent need for more graduates in Tennessee’s hospitality and tourism management programs, noting that the number of students graduating from four-year institutions in the state is not keeping pace with the growth of the industry, especially when compared to competing states.
“The hospitality and tourism sector is thriving, but we need to expand the pool of talent to meet its demands,” said Kwon. “We’re proud of the strides we’re making at UT to better prepare students for careers in this dynamic field, and today’s event reinforced the importance of collaboration between industry and academia to address workforce challenges.”
The event included an engaging discussion among attendees, who focused on strategies to increase enrollment in hospitality and tourism management programs, develop a skilled workforce, and better equip students with the competencies needed to succeed in the field.
“This was an exciting opportunity to bring together all the key players in the hospitality and tourism sector,” Kwon continued. “I truly appreciate Commissioner Ezell’s leadership in initiating this event, and I’m grateful for the collaborative spirit shown by everyone involved. Our faculty and staff are fully committed to overcoming workforce challenges and ensuring the continued success of our program. We look forward to developing actionable strategies to support the growth of this vital industry.”
The hospitality and tourism management program at UTK remains dedicated to preparing students for rewarding careers in the rapidly growing hospitality and tourism sector.
For more information about RHTM at UT and upcoming initiatives, please visit https://cehhs.utk.edu/rhtm/.
To see a photo gallery from the Hospitality Roadshow, please visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBZG9Q