New Hampshire Hospitality Month

Reaching Students Beyond the Classroom

The hospitality industry has something for everyone. From bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels, from diners to fine dining, from campgrounds to ski resorts and everything in between, the career opportunities are endless. But in an industry so diverse, how can students explore these career paths?

​In 2018, the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NHLRAEF) set out to establish the month of April as New Hampshire Hospitality Month to showcase these opportunities as viable career options for current middle and high school students. Governor Chris Sununu made it official with a proclamation that year, and since then, thousands of students have connected to exciting careers in the industry.

​“Our goal is to bring students outside of the classroom to experience the hospitality industry and see and interact with people at their workplace. This way, they can understand the full breadth of opportunities that exist. For example, Mill Falls at the Lake employs three social media staff. Most kids never think that this career option exists in this type of industry,” says Amie Pariseau, Executive Director of the NHLRAEF.

​In 2022, the NHLRAEF added Kick-Off Events leading up to New Hampshire Hospitality Month. Post-secondary schools that provide hospitality programming around the state will host students for tours, share an overview of coursework and career pathways, and provide hands-on experiences related to the industry and academics offered at the institution.