Hospitality and tourism are thriving again, full of new opportunities and challenges as travel and dining regain their momentum. With the industry in flux, students, job seekers and businesses are all searching for reliable guidance which is where we come in. At UpHouse, we steer, inspire and empower anyone looking to make a mark in these dynamic fields.
What’s Happening in Hospitality and Tourism Right Now
Travel, recreation and dining are booming after a long slowdown. This rebound means plenty of fresh jobs and career paths. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about one out of every eight new jobs in the United States by 2033 will be in hospitality or leisure. It is a sector bursting with chances for people at all stages.
What draws many to this industry is how easy it is to get started. A wide variety of positions, whether on the front lines, behind the scenes, in tech or in creative roles, does not always require extensive education or training. Even so, this rapid growth brings its own set of hurdles. Pay for entry-level jobs remains on the lower side, and the industry is still addressing issues around staffing, scheduling and workplace safety, all amplified during the pandemic. Success these days hinges on flexibility, communication and the ability to adjust quickly.
Today’s hospitality and tourism professionals are expected to be resourceful, welcoming and ready for anything. Employers are looking for individuals who thrive even when plans change and who know how to make guests feel at home. This is the perfect time to champion belonging, open up new pathways and promote sustainability. Whether you are starting your first job or changing direction in your career the industry is eager for fresh ideas. That is where we come in, leading the way into new possibilities.
How We Support and Grow Careers
Our philosophy goes beyond simply posting jobs. We believe in getting people genuinely excited about building their futures in hospitality and tourism. By blending hands-on, workforce-focused strategies with relatable storytelling we connect with people where it matters.
What sets us apart is how deliberately we root every campaign in the local context. The faces we feature are real workers, managers and owners. Their stories anchor everything we do, moving beyond numbers to spark curiosity and enthusiasm. Instead of generic messages we centre campaigns on lived experience, immersive visuals and real events that help candidates see their place within the industry.
Our methods are aligned with proven research, including strategies highlighted by Becky Liu-Lastres at Indiana University. As this university profile explains, focusing on adaptability and sustainable opportunities helps careers and businesses flourish. We actively involve communities and interest holders in every step. That way our work actually represents and uplifts the people and neighbourhoods at its core, transforming how tourism and hospitality careers are seen and experienced.
Our Partnership with Tourism HR Canada for True Impact
When Tourism HR Canada partnered with us in 2022 to revamp Discover Tourism, the project showed our approach in a significant way. We helped turn DiscoverTourism.ca into the first stop for anyone curious about working in hospitality and tourism in Canada.
With a fresh tagline, “Tourism Can Take You There,” brand new visuals and streamlined career tools, we gave job seekers more clarity and excitement about their options. We made it easy for employers to showcase their opportunities with a dedicated hub and then expanded our outreach nationwide through a coordinated media campaign.
A centerpiece of this effort was a collection of more than 100 documentary style, video stories. Real people shared what working in Canadian tourism means to them, giving the industry a human face and showcasing its diversity and richness.
The results spoke for themselves, with over 13.5 million media impressions and $118,000 in earned coverage within weeks of launch in April 2023. More importantly, this visibility led to numerous conversations, inspiration and a wave of new people picturing hospitality and tourism as places they could belong and succeed.
Why Agencies and Local Leaders Are Critical
In hospitality and tourism, progress depends on more than simply filling open roles. To achieve real momentum, agencies and community advocates must build lasting excitement and make opportunities visible to everyone. We have seen firsthand how a mix of creativity, data insight and commitment to local partnerships produces major results. Initiatives like North Dakota’s Travel and Tourism Awards echo that approach, showing that the most effective campaigns are built on trust, inclusion and genuine storytelling.
Here are a few lessons we have learned
- Creativity captures attention: Smart storytelling and bold visuals make people notice and remember your message.
- Real data, real strategy: We constantly review results so our campaigns resonate with job seekers and employers.
- Personal stories change minds: Nothing is more powerful than hearing directly from those who work in the field.
- Together we go further: Working with community groups and local organizations opens more networks and connections.
- Inclusion leads to belonging: Making our industry truly accessible means everyone sees a future for themselves here.
Wrapping Up
If hospitality and tourism are going to keep growing, the sector needs guides who value people and authenticity above all. That is our strength, real stories, strong brands and outreach that is both broad and genuine. We are reimagining what career-building looks like and helping job seekers and employers write the next chapter together. If you would like to see this approach at work, review our Tourism HR Case Study and imagine where you could go next.
FAQ
What’s driving the current growth in hospitality and tourism?
As global travel and recreation rebound, new opportunities and jobs are opening throughout the industry.
What kind of challenges do people encounter in this field?
Entry-level pay can be low, and the industry is still tackling issues related to staffing, scheduling, safety and the aftereffects of the pandemic. Clear communication and adaptability matter more than ever.
How do we do things differently when promoting these careers?
We prioritize honest storytelling, organize hands-on experiences and design our campaigns to reflect real life in the communities we serve. It is about making hospitality and tourism feel alive and welcoming.
What made our project with Tourism HR Canada stand out?
We shared more than 100 real-life video stories, updated the visual brand, built new career tools and launched a nationwide media campaign. The focus on authenticity and wide access led to millions of views and inspired people to picture careers in tourism and hospitality.
Why use creative storytelling and partnerships for recruitment in this sector?
By engaging authentic voices and working with community groups we reach broader audiences and make an impact that actually matters for job seekers and employers.
How does inclusion reshape the industry?
Valuing diversity attracts more talent, builds stronger trust and ensures anyone interested can find their place and succeed.
