How to Source Talent For the Tourism & Hospitality Industry

Partnering with hospitality and tourism programs is one of the best ways to hire restaurant employees, hotel staff and attraction workers. Many schools offer:

● Career fairs featuring students ready to enter the workforce
● Internship and apprenticeship programs that allow businesses to train future employees
● Job-placement services that match graduates with hospitality employers

Check out the Cook County colleges and training programs listed on our tourism and hospitality career resource list.

Posting on industry-specific job boards helps attract qualified candidates with tourism and hospitality experience. Some of the best places to hire restaurant employees and hotel staff include:

● Hcareers: Specializes in hotel, resort and restaurant positions
● HospitalityOnline: Focused on hospitality and tourism jobs
● eHotelier: Catered to hospitality career opportunities

These platforms connect businesses with experienced candidates actively seeking hospitality jobs.

LinkedIn is an essential tool for finding and recruiting hospitality employees. Employers can:

● Search for candidates with hospitality experience
● Post job openings in industry-specific LinkedIn groups
● Use LinkedIn Recruiter to directly reach out to potential hires

Engaging with LinkedIn hospitality networks can also help employers build long-term talent pipelines.

Connecting with hospitality and tourism industry associations — many of whom offer mentorship, education and hiring events — is a valuable way to find skilled employees. Consider networking through:

● Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
● Illinois Restaurant Association
● Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
● American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA)
● National Restaurant Association

Industry events, conferences and digital resources can help your business access job seekers and hospitality professionals.

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) can be effective for recruitment. Employers can:

● Post job openings using #NowHiring and other industry-specific hashtags
● Highlight company culture to attract candidates
● Run targeted hiring ads based on location and industry interest

Partnering with local chambers of commerce, workforce development organizations and Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) can help businesses connect with job seekers in their area. Many of these organizations offer:

● Job boards promoting tourism and hospitality openings
● Career fairs and networking events for hospitality job seekers
● Partnership programs that link employers with regional talent

This approach helps businesses hire employees for restaurants, hotels and attractions who are already familiar with the local market.

Attending hospitality-focused career fairs and industry networking events provides direct access to candidates who are actively looking for jobs. Many organizations host job expos specific to the tourism and hospitality industry. Employers can also organize on-site career fairs at their hotels, restaurants or attractions to meet potential employees in person and speed up the hiring process.

Encouraging current employees to refer candidates for open positions can lead to higher-quality hires. A referral bonus or incentive program can increase participation and attract skilled candidates who already align with company culture. Referral hires tend to have higher retention rates and stronger job satisfaction compared to other candidates.

Offering internships or apprenticeships allows businesses to train and evaluate potential employees before hiring full-time. Many hospitality schools and vocational programs partner with employers to provide hands-on experience for students.

Engaging with online forums and hospitality-focused communities — like Facebook groups and industry-specific discussion boards — can connect employers with industry professionals looking for new opportunities. Posting job opportunities or participating in discussions helps businesses build connections with potential candidates.

Many travel and hospitality bloggers have dedicated audiences who may be interested in industry job opportunities. Businesses can:

● Collaborate with bloggers to promote job listings
● Sponsor guest posts on hospitality blogs to attract job seekers
● Engage with influencer networks to expand hiring outreach

Reaching out to hospitality-focused bloggers and social media influencers can help businesses find engaged, passionate job seekers.

For businesses looking to hire local or seasonal employees, advertising job openings in regional newspapers or tourism magazines can still be effective. This method works well for:

● Hiring seasonal tourism employees in high-traffic destinations
● Reaching local job seekers who may not use online job boards
● Promoting hospitality jobs in suburban or rural regions

While digital hiring dominates, print media remains useful for certain tourism and hospitality hiring efforts.