Are you a young person who’s considering a career in the hospitality industry, but not quite sure how to get your foot in the door? The Bermuda Hospitality Institute is inviting high school and college aged students — as well as their parents — along to a networking and round table discussion event next week.BHI CEO Karla Lacey said next Tuesday’s event was a chance for young people to sit down with industry professionals and hear first hand how they got to where they are.“We have people who are at the top of their game or well on their way up the career ladder who share how they got started, what their background was, what some of the keys to their success were and what some of the challenges were that they faced along the way,” Ms Lacey said.A variety of professionals, including entrepreneurs and those in the culinary, entertainment or sports sections of the field will also be in attendance.Ms Lacey said such industry events aimed to open up young people’s imaginations and helped them to see themselves in a career in the hospitality field.She said there was room in the industry for people no matter what their interests or academic field of study, as long as they had their right attitude.For instance someone interested in the healthcare profession could be a nurse or doctor on a cruise ship, while someone who loved working with children could be hired to organise children’s programmes at a local hotel.Young people who were surveyed last year said the event also left them with a more realistic understanding of what it takes to get ahead in the industry.“Most young people said ‘If I got a degree I expected to come in as management’, but when they talked to everyone and found out how the professionals entered and how they worked their way up, everyone was like ‘Oh, I should expect to come in as a trainee or entry level’,” she said.“So it really allows people to get a realistic perspective of what it takes.“The other thing young people reported they got out of it was the sense of opportunity that the industry has, that there is no limit to where they can go.”One thing the BHI will be doing differently this year is inviting parents to come along for their own interactive sessions.Ms Lacey said it was important to share with parents about the opportunities available in the sector, so they didn’t dissuade their children to go into a typical office job.“The thing about the hospitality industry is over the years Bermudians who had a history and a foundation in the hospitality industry, didn’t want their kids to have to work the same way, so they began to direct children into other areas.“While the industry has grown up and changed in many ways and the opportunities are a lot broader then they may have been previously, the knowledge of that hasn’t been shared with those who only understand it as how it used to be.“So if we want young people to come back into the industry we need to make sure that those who would encourage them to do so, those that are in our homes understand how the industry is now, for themselves.”Parents will be able to take part in a discussion with Human Resources Managers who are in a position of hiring; and can get information on what it takes for young people to get in the door and where some of the shortcomings are that they see.They can also hear from young industry professionals who on the management track and will share why they chose a career in the hospitality industry and what they are getting out of it.This will allow parents to hear about the industry first hand and get behind their child if it’s something they are interested in, Ms Lacey explained.“I hope parents take away that it’s up to their young person to define success and that it may not look the same for their child as it did for them.“Also to understand how to support that, because at the end of the day we all want to be happy. We want to be able to wake up in the morning, be excited about the job we are going to, know that we are being paid fairly for the job and we are able to make a living and live the type of life that fits in with the job we have.“Parents want that for themselves and their children, so we are hoping at the end of the day parents will see that there are many ways in the hospitality industry, more than any other industry, for them to find that fit.”Ms Lacey herself said she was exposed to the retail and hospitality industry at age 12. As a young girl, she would sell items door-to-door in Connecticut and would also watch her father run a restaurant and bar in the area.“So I grew up around it. I was also a Girl Scout and a Brownie, which is all about being hospitable,” she told The Royal Gazette.In her professional career she worked in retail and strategic communication planning, so the hospitality industry was a natural fit for her.She said she hoped young people left the event with a better understanding of what the hospitality industry could offer them.“I also want them to leave with an understanding of what it takes to be successful and how many opportunities [exist within the industry] for them.”BHI’s networking and round table event will be taking place at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, next Tuesday at 5.30pm.You have to register before tomorrow’s deadline by e-mailing info@bhi.bm in order to attend.