WASHINGTON, DC – February 21, 2017 – The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) held a commitment signing ceremony event on Tuesday, February 21 to mark the beginning of the national Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship (HSRA) project.

NRAEF and AHLA received a $1.8 million contract from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to place more than 400 individuals in apprenticeships in the restaurant, foodservice and hotel and lodging industries through HSRA. HSRA will place individuals in paid apprenticeships focused on management-level positions across the hospitality and foodservice industries, translating into increased skills, higher wages, recognized credentials and a career advancement plan.

“It was great to come together with the USDOL and AHLA to kick-off the start of HSRA,” said Rob Gifford, Executive Vice President, NRAEF. “The program will create partnerships that will result in more affordable education and training for hospitality, restaurant and foodservice industry employees, while attracting people to the industry and working with them to progress their careers. Employers will also benefit with a more skilled, diverse and competitive workforce, reduced turnover costs, and higher productivity.”

“As a business of people serving people, the hotel industry thrives because our people are at the core of the industry,” said Joori Jeon, President & COO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (AHLEF). “We proudly invest in the women and men who are the backbone of the hospitality industry and ensure they have the training, skills and resources necessary to earn promotions and climb the ladder from entry level to management, upper management, senior executives and on to the C-Suite. We are thrilled to embark on this new apprenticeship program that truly embodies the character of hospitality. Our shared goals of pursuing on-the-job training and career advancement will provide important opportunities for the next generation of hospitality leaders to begin lifelong careers in our dynamic industry.”

From left to right: Rob Gifford (NRAEF), Joori Jeon (AHLA) and Jose Velazquez (USDOL)

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation:
As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) exists to enhance the restaurant industry’s service to the public through education, community engagement and promotion of career opportunities. The NRAEF works to attract, develop and retain a career-oriented professional workforce for the restaurant industry. In 2016, the restaurant and foodservice industry is projected to comprise one million outlets and a workforce of 14.4 million employees, making it the nation’s second largest private sector employer. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.