Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, Capital Area Workforce Development, North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Raleigh Convention Center partner on inaugural event.

Raleigh, N.C. (March 22, 2018) – The first ever Wake County Restaurant and Hotel Job Fair will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center from 10am-3pm on Wednesday, March 28. The inaugural event is a partnership between Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) and Capital Area Workforce Development, North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Raleigh Convention Center. The job fair will feature nearly 80 hospitality industry employers looking to fill more than 3,500 full and part-time positions.

Attendance to the job fair is free for job seekers. Vouchers will be provided for free parking at the Raleigh Convention Center Underground Parking Deck. To access, use the entrance on W. Lenoir Street between Fayetteville and S. Salisbury streets. Free transportation is also being provided by GoTriangle and GoRaleigh. Job seekers traveling to the job fair will be able to pull-up on their mobile device and/or print off a free transit pass by visiting GoRaleigh.org/workforce.

“The hospitality and tourism industry employs more than 63,000 people in Wake County which accounts for roughly 10% of the local workforce. Further, the industry has been adding 800 new jobs per year since 2009 and is expected to grow by 9% over the next five years,” said Dennis Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh). “Finding quality talent to fill these jobs has become an issue as demand for jobs has grown. Our goal with this collaborative initiative is to address the workforce shortage our restaurants, hotels, attractions and service providers are experiencing while sustaining and fostering the growth expected.”

The tourism industry is as large as it’s ever been here in Wake County with more than 15 million visitors choosing to visit Wake County each year and collectively spending $2.4 billion annually while here. Wake County is home to more than 1,200 restaurants and 150+ accommodations, with another seven hotels currently under construction and 19 hotel projects in the final planning stages.

“We hope anyone looking for work will come out to this job fair. The full-time career growth opportunities within the hospitality and tourism sector have long made it very attractive to people with varying levels of educational and training backgrounds. We also know many people today are supplementing their incomes with secondary jobs and the tourism and hospitality sector is also great for that,” said Pat Sturdivant, Executive Director at Capital Area Workforce Development. “This is an excellent event for learning about careers in the restaurant and hospitality sector from big brands like Marriott down to small, local businesses alike. We’re honored to be bringing this first-of-its-kind job fair to Wake County and hope people take advantage of this unique opportunity at what is an exciting time of need for the industry here locally.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony and media photo opportunity will take place at 9:50am just outside the doors of Ballroom A at the Raleigh Convention Center, just before the event opens at 10am. Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes will be attending the ribbon cutting ceremony along with representatives from Capital Area Workforce Development, Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau and North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association.

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh)

The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable economic growth and development by increasing visitor and convention business. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes more than 15 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.4 billion. The hospitality and tourism industry employs more than 63,000 people in Wake County which accounts for roughly 10% of the local workforce. VisitRaleigh.com.

About the Capital Area Workforce Development

CAWD is a public-private partnership and 501(c)3 funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014. Through collaborations with business, government, education and others, the organization has developed state and nationally-recognized workforce programs, connected businesses to workforce resources and the education system, and helped thousands to gain employment. For more information visit capitalareancworks.com.

About the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association

Established in 1947, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) works to advance and protect North Carolina’s $22 billion restaurant, foodservice and lodging industry. The association provides access to the resources and support restaurant and lodging professionals need to lead thriving businesses, while serving as conscientious, contributing members of an unparalleled industry. To learn more information about NCRLA or its membership opportunities and cost-saving benefits, please visit ncrla.org.

About the Raleigh Convention Center

A three-time winner of ConventionSouth's Readers' Choice Award, the Raleigh Convention Center is a bustling hub for the culture, commerce and technologies that make the Triangle one of the country's most admired regions. The modern, 500,000 sq ft, LEED Silver-certified facility includes a soaring street level lobby, an elegant, easily partitioned ballroom, a 150,000 sq ft exhibit hall and a 4,100 sq ft mezzanine as well as cutting edge tech amenities and award-winning culinary delights. Convention center staff also operates the nearby Red Hat Amphitheater and Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, which can also be part of an event experience. For more information visit raleighconvention.com.

Media Contacts

Scott Peacock, Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau
Director of Public Relations
(919) 645-2676
speacock@visitraleigh.com 

Brenda Wilkerson, Capital Area Workforce Development
Communications Manager
(919) 856-5390
brenda.wilkerson@wakegov.com

Miranda Kinney, North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
Director of Communications
(919) 747-2205
mkinney@ncrla.com

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