“Good Times Expected,” was the theme of the Travel and Tourism roundtable discussion in the December 2024 edition of BusinessNC Magazine, which featured Robeson Community College’s Culinary Arts program director, Chef James Ingram.

“There’s plenty to see and experience in North Carolina,” the article states. “More than 43 million visitors make it their destination, whether for a work meeting or vacation every year… ensuring the travel and tourism industry continues to be an important part of the state’s economy takes effort.”

Within the travel and tourism industry, you’ll find many of your favorite restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, hotels, and places where you can just “be.” Every town, municipality, city, county and region has its own unique hospitality sector, attracting visitors from across the state as well as from around the world.

“Businesses within the industry need qualified workers,” Ingram said. “More students means more qualified workers who understand the industry’s regulations and requirements.”

Ingram says he expects to see a “boom” in enrollment in the next three years.

“Who else to properly manage your front desk, waitstaff, or kitchen than someone with these credentials? That’s a huge difference,” Ingram said. “You want a manager who treats people with respect and dignity, not one who doesn’t care.”

With working in restaurants, and hotels, Ingram says it’s a work of love.

“You need passion for this career,” stated Ingram. “If that isn’t deep within you, then it’s not going to work. Experiencing how restaurants or events are run teaches you what to do and what not to do.”

Pointing out the programs available at Robeson Community College, Ingram says “It’s a learning opportunity… when you land a job, start your business, or approach your employees.”

Ingram also says that when you start a career in hospitality, you have to be willing to work hard and long hours because the industry can be demanding.

“I train students to be chefs,” Ingram said. “That includes explaining the realities of kitchen work.”

Ingram says, “Robeson Community College offers associate degree programs for culinary arts and baking and pastry. There are seven certificate programs, too… We’re trying to make our students marketable everywhere.”

Berkita Bradford, the hospitality and tourism department chair at NC Central University; Eric Kuester, the vice president and head of sales and marketing at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club; Andrew Schmidt, the President and CEO of Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Wit Tuttell, the executive director of Visit North Carolina, were also panelists on the travel and tourism roundtable discussion.

The roundtable discussion took place in Raleigh at the Visit North Carolina corporate office suite.  To read the entire transcript of the roundtable discussion, please visit https://businessnc.com/roundtable-travel-toursm/.

Editor's note: This article was originally posted by RCC. See full article here.