Customer Service: Making sure guests have positive experiences means being friendly, patient, and responsive. Good service is the heart of hospitality.

Communication: Having clear, polite communication with guests and team members helps everything run smoothly without any confusion or misunderstanding.

Organization: Being able to manage bookings, schedules, and event details is crucial, and it requires solid planning and multitasking skills.

Problem Solving: Unexpected issues happen in hospitality all the time, especially because you deal with a lot of variables. Being able to quickly think of solutions and stay calm is key.

Cultural Awareness: Since hospitality often serves diverse groups, understanding different customs and expectations makes a big difference.

Sales and Marketing Basics: Promoting events, restaurants, or hotels through special offers and appealing messaging helps grow business.

Technology Savvy: From booking software to social media promotion, technology tools are essential in modern hospitality.

DECA: Compete in hospitality and tourism events such as Hotel and Lodging Management or Travel and Tourism Marketing to build industry-specific skills.

Volunteer/ community service at local events: Help with planning, guest services, or marketing for events around Fremont and beyond.

Service internships/ jobs: This can teach the valuable skill of being professional and using customer service to interact with customers. 

Tutoring/ teacher assistant at any type of school: Interacting with various types of students and being patient with them while conveying information in an understandable manner is key. 

School event planning committees: Join or lead efforts to organize dances, fundraisers, or school trips to practice real-world hospitality and logistics.

Summer programs like the Hospitality Management Academy: Learn industry basics, customer service, and event coordination.

School Clubs:

• Service Clubs (Key, LEO, Interact, etc): Develop leadership and organizational skills while serving your community.

• Cultural Clubs (VSA, MSA, etc): Engage with diverse traditions and people, a great asset for hospitality careers.

• Speech & Debate: Strengthen your communication and persuasion skills, useful for customer interactions and promotions.

• Drama: It’s great for putting on customer service style personas.