Description

Join us September 24th, 2026 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM for an informative virtual session brought to you by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association Foundation

Struggling to Build Your Bench? VRLTA's Verified Internship Program Might Be the Answer.

Every VRLTA member - restaurant, hotel, or travel business - is fighting the same battle: finding and keeping good people. The Verified Internship Program (VIP) turns that challenge into a pipeline. It's a simple framework for building paid internships that develop real talent, connect you with Virginia students looking for internships, and give you a structured way to bring rising professionals straight from the classroom into your business.

Join us September 24 to see how it works - free for members, quick to apply for, and open to any VRLTA business regardless of sector. Whether you're planning for next summer or a fall/spring semester, now's the time to get started. 

We'll cover:

• What VIP status actually gets you (recognition, promotion as a VIP business, and a direct line to Virginia students seeking internships - not just a checklist)
• How little it takes to get verified, and how we'll help you apply live during the session
• How to build an internship program from scratch if you don't have one yet
• Straight answers to the questions and hesitations that came up the first time around

If you've got any interest in interns, hiring, or growing your own future leaders, this is built for you.

VRLTA's Verified Internship Program (VIP)

Featured Speaker: Dr. Jai Girard Director of Education & Workforce Development, VRLTA

Jai joined VRLTA from James Madison University, where she served as a Visiting Lecturer. She has over 15 years of hospitality experience. At JMU, Jai taught classes in hospitality and tourism (entrepreneurship, marketing, ethics, etc.) while also serving as the JMU’s Student Club Managers Association of America faculty advisor and an Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow with the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship. Before joining JMU, Jai worked for hospitality organizations in Texas and founded a nonprofit in Texas while completing her graduate education at Texas A&M University. Jai is a triple Aggie with a Bachelor's in Sociology, a Master's in Youth Development, and will soon complete her PhD in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences. Her dissertation research focused on hospitality consumers’ food waste. In her free time, Jai enjoys spending time with her wife, their 4 dogs, and learning about Virginia.

Registration closes September 21st at 5:00 PM