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Hospitality, Culinary, & Tourism2026-10-15T11:09:55-05:00

Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism

Great food, memorable travel, and unforgettable experiences don’t happen by accident. They’re built by people who know the business. This pathway is where that starts.

Careers in This Field

Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism spans five distinct industries — lodging, food service, travel, events, and marketing — and careers exist across all of them. Below is a look at where this pathway can lead, organized by the education level each role typically requires.

With a High School Diploma2026-09-17T14:50:59-05:00

The hospitality industry is one of the most accessible entry points in the workforce — and one of the fastest ways to build transferable skills in customer service, communication, and operations. Students can begin working in hospitality right out of high school, often while continuing their education.

Server

Take orders, deliver food, and create positive dining experiences for restaurant guests.

Host/Hostess

Greet guests, manage seating, and set the tone for the dining experience.

Barista

Prepare and serve coffee and specialty beverages in café and coffeeshop environments.

Food Prep Cook

Prepare ingredients and support kitchen operations in restaurant and food service settings.

Dishwasher / Busser

Maintain the flow of a working kitchen and dining room — foundational roles in any food service operation.

Guest Services Representative

Serve as the front-line contact for hotel guests — check-in, requests, and problem resolution.

Event Services Staff

Set up, operate, and break down events — conferences, banquets, concerts, and more.

Customer Service Representative

Support guests and visitors across tourism and hospitality settings.

Ticket Representative

Assist guests at attractions, entertainment venues, and tourism destinations.

Visitor Center Attendant

Welcome visitors, share local information, and represent a destination or attraction.

Lifeguard

Monitor aquatic facilities and ensure guest safety at resorts, recreation centers, and parks.

With Additional Training, a Certificate Program, or Technical Diploma2026-09-17T14:55:18-05:00

Certificates and training programs open the door to supervisory and specialty roles — the people who run the front desk, manage the kitchen prep, and keep events running smoothly.

Front Desk Supervisor

Oversee front-of-house hotel operations, manage staff shifts, and handle escalated guest needs.

Catering/Banquet Supervisor

Coordinate catering operations for events — logistics, staffing, setup, and service execution.

Culinary Assistant

Support executive chefs and kitchen teams in high-volume restaurant and catering environments.

Bartender

Prepare and serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in licensed establishments.

Travel Agent

Plan and book travel itineraries — flights, hotels, tours, and experiences — for individual and group clients.

Tour Guide

Lead groups through destinations, attractions, and experiences with knowledge and enthusiasm.

Exhibit Designer

Develop immersive and informative exhibit environments for museums, visitor centers, and attractions.

Flight Attendant

Ensure passenger safety and comfort aboard commercial aircraft.

Environmental Health Inspector

Monitor food service operations for compliance with safety, sanitation, and licensing regulations.

With an Associate Degree2026-09-17T15:04:12-05:00

An associate degree or equivalent experience moves students into management and culinary leadership — running the kitchen, the floor, or the event.

Chef

Lead kitchen operations, develop menus, manage food costs, and direct culinary staff.

Pastry Chef

Specialize in baked goods, desserts, and confections for restaurants, hotels, and catering operations.

Kitchen Manager

Oversee kitchen staff, inventory, purchasing, and daily food production in a food service operation.

Event/Banquet Manager

Plan and execute large-scale events — logistics, vendor coordination, staffing, and client communication.

Front House Manager

Manage the guest-facing side of a restaurant or hotel — staff, service standards, and customer experience.

Caterer

Own and operate a catering business, managing menus, events, staff, and client relationships.

Event Planner

Design and coordinate corporate, social, and nonprofit events from concept through execution.

Social Media Specialist

Manage digital presence and content strategy for hospitality and tourism brands.

Recreation Director

Lead recreational programming for resorts, parks, campgrounds, and community facilities.

Park Ranger

Protect and manage natural areas while educating visitors and supporting outdoor recreation.

With a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher2026-09-17T15:06:43-05:00

Four-year programs lead to the business and leadership roles that shape how hospitality organizations operate at scale.

Hotel Manager

Oversee all operations of a hotel property — staffing, finances, guest experience, and brand standards.

Food & Beverage Director

Manage all food and beverage operations for a hotel, resort, or large hospitality group.

Executive Chef

Lead culinary vision and kitchen operations for a major restaurant, hotel, or catering organization.

Restaurant Owner

Build and run a food service business — concept, operations, staff, and brand.

General Manager

Lead all aspects of a hospitality operation, from revenue management to guest experience to team development.

Director of Sales

Drive revenue strategy and business development for hotels, venues, and destination organizations.

Director of Convention and Visitors Bureau

Lead a regional tourism organization, promoting destinations and supporting the local visitor economy.

Marketing Specialist

Develop and execute marketing campaigns for hospitality brands, destinations, and events.

Public Relations Manager

Shape public perception and media presence for tourism and hospitality organizations.

Travel Writer

Produce editorial content about destinations, experiences, and travel for publications and digital platforms.

Why This Field in Kenosha County

$488M

tourism economic impact in 2025 — a 7% increase and the fourth straight year of record growth

15th

of 72 Wisconsin counties for tourism activity

3,500+

hospitality jobs available across the region, plus over 3,300 restaurant positions

Kenosha County’s hospitality economy is on a genuine run. For students ready to build careers in food, travel, and experience, there’s real opportunity across the region — from restaurants and hotels to attractions, events, and destination organizations.

Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism at KTEC

Courses at KTEC

KTEC students in the Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism pathway combine foundational technology coursework with culinary-focused dual-enrollment courses through Gateway Technical College — building both the practical skills and professional habits that hospitality employers expect from day one.

KTEC Core Courses

Tech 1

Introduction to technology systems, tools, and problem-solving in a hands-on lab environment.

Industrial Safety

Workplace safety standards, hazard identification, and safe equipment operation practices.

Gateway Technical College Courses

Through our partnership with Gateway Technical College, Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism students can earn real college credit in culinary and nutrition coursework before they graduate. These aren’t survey courses — they’re the same curriculum Gateway delivers to students in its professional culinary and food service programs.

Culinary & Nutrition Courses2026-09-17T15:07:47-05:00

316-170 Sanitation and Hygiene

Food safety standards, contamination prevention, and sanitation practices required in all professional food service environments.

316-150 Culinary Basics

Knife skills, cooking methods, kitchen equipment, and foundational culinary techniques.

316-152 Intermediate Culinary

Intermediate cooking applications — stocks, sauces, proteins, and professional kitchen workflow.

316-151 Basic Baking

Foundational baking methods, bread production, and pastry techniques in a professional kitchen setting.

316-154 Advanced Baking

Advanced pastry and baking applications including specialty desserts, decorating, and production-scale baking.

316-130 Nutrition

Principles of nutrition and their application to menu development, dietary needs, and food service operations.

Start College Now (Gateway Campus)2026-09-17T15:10:59-05:00

KTEC students may also enroll directly at Gateway Technical College for general education credit.

809-195 Economics

Overview of micro and macroeconomic principles and their application to business and society.

809-198 Introduction to Psychology

Foundational principles of human behavior, cognition, and psychological science.

Certifications & Credentials

Hospitality employers — especially in food service — expect workers to arrive with a baseline of safety and professional knowledge. KTEC students earn those credentials before they graduate.

Pathway-Specific Certifications

ServSafe Food Handler

National Restaurant Association

OSHA 10

OSHA

3m Fall Protection

3M PPE

3M

3M Professionalism

3M

Certifications Available to All KTEC Students

504f

NC3 Snap-on Multimeter

Snap-on / NC3

Torque Theory

NC3 Snap-on Torque

Snap-on / NC3

NC3 Snap-on Precision Measurement

Snap-on / NC3

Tool Id 1

NC3 Snap-on Tool Identification

Snap-on / NC3

Tornach Cnc Fundamentals

Tormach CNC Fundamentals

Tormach

Festo Intro To Cad

Introduction to CAD

Festo

Dremel 3d Printing

Impresión 3D Dremel

Dremel

Dremel Lc 40 Laser

Dremel Laser Cutter

Dremel

Data Analytics I

Data Analytics I — Harnessing the Power of Data

Trane

Work-Based Learning & CTSOs

KTEC students don’t have to wait for graduation to start building a career. Paid work experience with local employers and hands-on trade competitions give them a real head start while they’re still in high school.

Youth Apprenticeship

Hospitality is a field where personality and professionalism are built on the floor, not in a classroom. Through Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program, students can earn paid, supervised experience in a real hospitality or food service setting while still in high school — working alongside industry professionals, building customer service instincts, and developing the habits that lead to advancement. YA hours count toward graduation requirements.

SkillsUSA

Every KTEC pathway is anchored by SkillsUSA — a national career and technical student organization where students develop leadership, teamwork, and professional skills alongside their technical training. SkillsUSA members compete at local, state, and national levels in hands-on contests tied directly to their field.

Post-Secondary Options

Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism graduates leave KTEC with college credit in culinary coursework, industry certifications, and work experience — a foundation that sets them apart whether they’re entering the workforce or continuing their education.

1

Enter the Workforce

Enter food service, hospitality, or tourism roles with ServSafe certification, Gateway culinary credit, and real work experience already on your resume.

2

Continue at Gateway

Continue Gateway culinary, baking, or hospitality management programs with KTEC credits already applied toward your program.

3

Transfer to a 4-Year College

KTEC coursework and Gateway credits support transfer into hospitality management, culinary arts, and tourism programs at Wisconsin universities.

Ready to start this pathway?

Enrollment at KTEC is open to all students in grades 4K–12. No application fee. No academic requirement.