The hospitality industry is facing a growing paradox: businesses continuously need people with the right skills and service mindset, while many young people still lack access to training programs that can prepare them for a career in the industry.
This gap cannot be solved simply by finding more candidates. What matters more is building training programs that reflect real operational needs, with businesses, educational institutions, and social organizations working together to develop future talent.
At HORECFEX VIETNAM 2026, Dr. Neal Bermas – Founder and Chairman of STREETS International – will share insights drawn from a hospitality and culinary training model designed for disadvantaged youth, primarily in Vietnam.
STREETS International goes beyond technical vocational training. Its programs also emphasize English language skills, life skills, professional conduct, and hands-on industry experience. The goal is not only to help trainees secure employment, but also to prepare them for long-term career development across hotels, restaurants, and service businesses.
Dr. Bermas’ approach combines management thinking, educational experience, and social impact in practice. He previously held leadership positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young, while also teaching at New York University, the University of Southern California, and the Institute of Culinary Education.
This multidisciplinary background allows him to view workforce training not simply as a form of social responsibility, but also as a practical solution to improving operational quality and supporting sustainable business development.
His session at HORECFEX VIETNAM 2026 will explore how the gap between the classroom and the workplace can be narrowed, how training programs can better respond to market needs, and how more career opportunities can be created for young people with potential.
For hotels, restaurants, and F&B businesses, the session also raises an important question: instead of relying only on the existing labor market, how can businesses take a more active role in developing the workforce they will need in the future?
Because in hospitality, competitive advantage does not come only from technology or physical infrastructure. It also begins with identifying the right potential, developing the right skills, and creating the right opportunities at the right time.