A Parent’s Guide to Denver’s Hospitality Industry: The Perfect Career Start for Your Child
As your child prepares to enter the workforce, many parents and guardians wonder which career paths will offer the best opportunities for their kids. In Denver, the hospitality industry is booming, offering a wealth of entry-level positions across diverse sectors like attractions, events, hotels, outdoor recreation, and food & beverage. For young adults ready to enter the workforce, hospitality offers an excellent gateway to build lifelong skills and launch their careers.
Did you know?
As the hospitality industry evolves, more skills are needed as new positions centered around digitalization, technology, and sustainability open up.
Why Hospitality is a Great Starting Point for Young Adults
The hospitality industry in Denver is uniquely suited for young adults looking to start their professional journey. With plenty of entry-level positions available, it’s easy for recent graduates to jump right into the workforce. These roles often come with on-the-job training, meaning no prior experience is required for most positions, making it a welcoming industry for those just starting out.
Hospitality jobs also offer competitive starting pay (sometimes up to $30/h for entry-level positions) and job security, two key factors that make it attractive for young professionals (and their parents). Parents play a critical role in supporting their child’s decisions by offering encouragement and understanding as they explore a job in hospitality.
Did you know?
The hospitality industry needs staff! With fewer applicants, it now takes an average of 5.5 weeks to fill job openings compared to 2-3 weeks in previous years. That means you’re in demand!
Understanding the Industry
The hospitality industry is a broad and dynamic field with opportunities in five major sectors:
Attractions: Think museums, zoos, and theme parks, where staff are needed to help ensure visitors have a memorable experience.
Events: From weddings to conferences, event coordination is essential, and this industry always has a need for new talent.
Hotels: From maintenance engineer to front-desk management, hotels offer a range of positions with chances for advancement.
Outdoor Recreation: Colorado’s natural beauty draws millions of tourists, making outdoor jobs—from tour guides to operations managers—highly rewarding.
Food & Beverage: Restaurants, bars, and cafes are constantly on the lookout for fresh talent, and the skills learned in the hospitality industry are invaluable.
Did you know?
Tourism supports 44,750 jobs in the City & County of Denver, 73,600 jobs in metro Denver, and 187,710 in Colorado!
Benefits of a Hospitality Career
Working in the hospitality industry offers more than just a paycheck. It’s an environment that fosters the development of essential life skills, such as:
Customer service: Understanding how to meet the needs of a diverse group of people is an invaluable skill.
Communication: Whether coordinating with teammates or interacting with customers, clear communication is a must.
Teamwork: Collaboration is central to most hospitality roles.
Problem-solving and adaptability: The fast-paced nature of hospitality often requires quick thinking and flexibility.
Beyond skill development, creativity and self-expression are also integral parts of many roles. Event planners, chefs, and tour guides, for example, all have opportunities to inject their own personalities into their work. Hospitality also provides exposure to diverse groups of people, allowing young adults to broaden their cultural perspectives.
From a career growth standpoint, hospitality offers clear pathways to advancement, with many senior-level professionals having started in entry-level hospitality jobs. Not to mention, the flexible work schedules and competitive salaries (often with benefits) make hospitality jobs highly appealing to young professionals.
Did you know?
A new hospitality job becomes available every 2.5 seconds!
How You Can Support a Young Adult’s Hospitality Career
As a parent, there are several ways to help your child thrive in the hospitality industry:
Encourage skill development in areas like communication and teamwork.
Assist with job searches and applications by guiding them to resources such as how to write a resume for the Denver hospitality industry.
Networking is an essential part of succeeding in this industry. Encourage your child to build relationships with others in the field, as these connections often open doors to new opportunities. Support networking efforts through connections or by sharing these networking tips.
Understand that the hospitality industry comes with unique challenges, such as fluctuating hours or high customer demands. However, the rewards far outweigh the challenges, and your support will be key to your child’s success.
Did you know?
Colorado’s restaurants employ 11% of the state’s labor force. (source)
Hospitality Makes for A Great First Job
The hospitality industry in Denver offers an incredible opportunity for young adults to enter the workforce, develop transferable skills, and grow into successful careers. As parents and guardians, your encouragement and understanding will help pave the way for your child to flourish in a field that is rich with possibility.
Looking for more info and guidance? Check out our resource page.
Ready to help your child look for a job? Explore our open hospitality positions here.
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