Restaurants, lodging and recreation form the trifecta of the hospitality industry. Throughout the intertwined facets there’s a common thread: From tiny Bed & Breakfasts to massive convention centers, success is based on a mix of businesses working together to please guests. Hospitality is the nation’s No. 1 private-sector employer and the world’s fastest-growing industry, and it creates a new position every 2.5 seconds. But the industry is vulnerable to economic dips -- so a loyal customer base is the best protection.

Food and Beverage Services

Places to eat and drink range from fast food to full-service fine dining. Institutional operations include meals for schools and hospitals prepared and served under the direction of a dietary services manager. Pubs, taverns, bars and nightclubs provide an upbeat atmosphere as well as alcohol to patrons of legal drinking age.

Catered meals and live entertainment for special events are examples of the crossover commerce so essential to the overall hospitality network.

Staffing requirements in this category may include managers, cooks, food prep personnel, servers, hosts and hostesses, busboys and dishwashers.

Accommodations and Lodging

From full-service hotels to rustic rental cabins, providing guests with a comfortable night’s stay is the focus. Success is based on using demographics and location to identify customers and meet their needs. Aside from conventional independent or franchise hotels and motels, this category includes dormitories, hostels, campgrounds, marinas and more.

Beyond beds, many lodging establishments include onsite restaurants. This combination is so common that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups accommodations, food and beverages into the same sector for forecasts and other national reports.

Staff positions include managers, front-desk clerks, maintenance, housekeeping and concierge services.

Recreation and Leisure

Everything from art galleries to zip-lining -- an endless array of tourism, travel and entertainment services -- are included in what the U.S. Department of Commerce breaks down into more than 20 hospitality sub-sectors. Outdoor activities, guided tours, spectator sports, gaming, concerts, special events and conventions are just a few of the possibilities.

Interdependency is a necessity. Guests enjoying your bowling lanes or bike rentals, for example, will require food, drink and a place to stay if they are traveling.

Staffing needs in this category include managers and administrators, event planners, retail associates, guides, tourism information specialists, maintenance/groundskeepers and many other seasonal or full-time positions, some of which require highly specialized knowledge.

Togetherness Pays

Hospitality businesses -- sometimes including direct competitors -- often form area-wide alliances through tourism and travel bureaus or chambers of commerce. Joining is an effective way to network for referrals and promotions. Regional websites and targeted advertising in global markets becomes affordable when it’s a group effort.

Non-profit tax- and user fee-supported tourism and recreation businesses such as public parks also act as small-business boosters. Customers drawn to the primary attraction patronize nearby lodging facilities, restaurants and auxiliary attractions. The same spinoff benefits hold true for large theme parks, casinos and other for-profit hospitality behemoths; smaller businesses at the feet of the giants profit from proximity.

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