Recruit and hire
Connect with statewide job seekers, local workforce centers, hiring events, and employer services.
Arkansas Workforce ConnectionsArkansas JobLink
Hospitality Job Board
Arkansas hospitality workforce
Build the team. Grow the talent.
Connect with hiring resources, hospitality education, career pathways, and practical employer support from high school through professional advancement.
12 ProStart schoolsParticipating statewide during the 2025-26 school year, with additional schools expected in 2026-27.
Hundreds of studentsIntroduced each year to hospitality, culinary, tourism, and restaurant careers.
Statewide connectionsFrom high school pathways to college credentials, employers, internships, and jobs.
Employer starting points
Move from an open position to a stronger team
Use these official and industry resources to recruit, prepare, and retain people in Arkansas hospitality.
Arkansas JobLink
Hospitality Job Board
Train and advance
Strengthen skills in food safety, guest service, restaurant operations, and hospitality leadership.
ServSafe trainingServSuccess
AHA education programs
Manage with confidence
Start with current labor guidance, workplace notices, and practical compliance resources.
Arkansas labor guidanceFederal workplace posters
EEOC small business resources
College and career pathways
Study hospitality, culinary arts, and tourism in Arkansas
Explore verified Arkansas degree and certificate programs. Program names and offerings can change, so use each school link for current admissions and curriculum details.
University of Arkansas
Hospitality Management B.S.H.E.S., plus minors in Hospitality Management and Event Management.
Explore the programArkansas Tech University
Bachelor of Science in Tourism, with hospitality coursework and a Hospitality Administration minor.
Explore the programArkansas State University
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Event Tourism Management with internships and industry-focused coursework.
Explore the programUniversity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Hospitality and Tourism Management, plus Food Service and Restaurant Management within Human Sciences.
Explore the programsUA Pulaski Technical College
Programs in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Hospitality Management, Dietary Management, restaurant operations, and related specialties.
Explore CAHMI programsBrightwater at NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Food Studies pathways in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Artisanal Food, Beverage Arts, and related certificates and apprenticeships.
Explore Brightwater programsArkansas State University-Newport
Culinary Arts and Food Service Management pathways, including certificates and an Associate of Applied Science option.
Explore the programUA North Arkansas College
Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management, available on campus and online.
Explore the programOzarka College
Culinary Arts Associate of Applied Science and related technical and proficiency certificates.
Explore the programNational Park College
Outdoor Recreation Associate of Applied Science with stackable credentials, including Tourism and Hospitality.
Explore the programUniversity of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-McGehee
Hospitality Services training in customer service, culinary fundamentals, lodging operations, and hospitality, travel, and tourism.
View the program guideUA Little Rock
Transfer pathways allow eligible UA-PTC culinary, baking, and hospitality graduates to continue toward a Bachelor of Applied Science.
Explore transfer pathwaysHelp us keep this directory complete. If your Arkansas school offers a culinary, hospitality, tourism, lodging, restaurant, or event-management credential that should be included, contact AHA.
High school pathways
Help students see a future in hospitality
Arkansas students can begin building industry skills, credentials, and professional connections before graduation.
ProStart
ProStart combines restaurant and foodservice curriculum with hands-on learning, industry mentorship, and competition opportunities. AHA supports participating schools across Arkansas and helps students connect classroom skills with real hospitality careers.
Explore Arkansas ProStartBecome a ProStart school
Arkansas CTE pathways
State pathways include Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, Hospitality and Tourism, and Arkansas Tourism and Recreation.
View Arkansas CTE pathwaysAcademies of Central Arkansas
AHA is an Academies partner working closely with Sylvan Hills High School and building connections with other Central Arkansas schools. The partnership helps students access speakers, workplace tours, job shadows, mentoring, internships, and real industry insight.
Explore the AcademiesBecome a business partner
Put your operation in the talent pipeline
Host a tour, speak to a class, offer a job shadow, mentor a student, or explore work-based learning. A small commitment can help a student see hospitality as a career.
Workforce readiness
Start a path to hospitality employment
Restaurant Ready helps people build the practical skills, confidence, and support needed to begin and sustain a career in restaurants and hospitality.
Restaurant Ready
Participants develop six industry-defined competencies: personal responsibility, learning, communication, customer service, a strong workplace attitude, and core industry skills.
Explore Restaurant ReadyFind a local pathway
Arkansas partners connect training with credentials, coaching, and employment support. Food Jobs Work serves Little Rock and Pine Bluff, and NWACC offers a Restaurant Readiness Culinary Bootcamp.
Explore Food Jobs WorkExplore the NWACC bootcamp
Help create the next opportunity
AHA connects Arkansas community organizations, hospitality employers, and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Employers can hire participants, host work-based learning, or help shape local pathways.
Connect with AHAMore employer resources
Support people throughout the employee journey
Arkansas LAUNCH for Employers
Connect with skilled candidates and local workforce support.
Open Arkansas LAUNCHHuman-trafficking prevention
Access Arkansas-focused training, reporting, and prevention resources for hospitality teams.
Open prevention resourcesAHA membership support
Connect with training, benefits, industry expertise, advocacy updates, and member resources.
Explore member benefitsLaunch or grow a food business
ARKitchen gives food entrepreneurs access to a licensed commercial kitchen, shared equipment, and flexible rental options without taking on the cost of a full facility.
Explore ARKitchenPut surplus food to work
Potluck Food Rescue helps restaurants, hotels, caterers, cafeterias, and other food businesses redirect usable surplus food to local hunger-relief organizations.
Donate surplus foodLower waste and earn recognition
Little Rock's Green Restaurant Program recognizes practical steps in purchasing, packaging, recycling, food donation, and fats, oils, and grease management.
Explore the Green Restaurant ProgramLast reviewed September 2026. This page is a starting point and does not provide legal, tax, payroll, or human-resources advice.