Description

Calling All Hospitality and Tourism Professionals!

Please join us to help foster the skills and ingenuity of the next generation of the hospitality and tourism workforce in Virginia! The students are competing for scholarships, the title of Virginia State ProStart Champs and the chance to represent Virginia on the National level at the National ProStart Invitational!   Registration closes on January 30th, 2026 at 5:00PM.

About the Competition:

The 2026 Virginia ProStart Invitational (VPSI) is composed of two distinct competitions—management and culinary—that showcase the most important skills needed on both sides of the restaurant and foodservice industry, front-of-the-house and behind the scenes in the kitchen.

The Culinary Competition highlights the creative abilities of teams through the preparation of a three-course meal in just 60 minutes, using only two butane burners with no access to running water or electricity. There’s no room for error as they’re evaluated on taste, skill, teamwork, safety, and sanitation.

The Management Competition asks teams to develop a proposal for the next hot restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges. The team's ability to think on their feet is also tested as they quickly solve challenges managers face on a daily basis.