The event will be held at Bluestone Resorts in the county of Pembrokeshire, in south Wales, a region where youth unemployment levels are running at 25%, a rate more than 20% above the UK national all-age average of 4.6%.
Local businesses will have the chance to talk to jobseekers about the prospects available to them and discuss with them the enormous possibilities for professional development and advancement within the sector, according to the BHA, who run the series along with the Springboard UK charity.
The Big Hospitality Conversation says it has so far connected over 4,000 executives and HR directors across the UK with young jobseekers to facilitate 67,000 new hospitality career starts since its inception in 2015.
The BHA is currently addressing the difficulties with employment levels in the sector through conversations with government, urging for hospitality T-levels to be brought forward from its scheduled roll-out in 2022.
A recent report from the Greater London Authority highlighted the hospitality industry as an area of the UK economy 'particularly vulnerable' from the fallout over Brexit given the likely restriction of free movement from the EU.
According to figures from the BHA, 75% of waiting staff, 37% of housekeeping staff and 25% of all chefs are from other EU countries.
“There are few industries that can match the career prospects offered by hospitality to entrants of all skill levels, but hospitality careers are not actively promoted in the UK as much as they should be," said Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of the BHA.
“Given the right support from businesses and government, prioritising hospitality recruitment and development of British workers, the industry has the potential to fill the gap left by EU workers once freedom of movement has stopped.”
Chief executive of Bluestone Resorts, William McNamara, added: “Here in Wales we have the advantage of a great holiday environment, with beautiful countryside and some of the world’s most stunning beaches. The people of Wales are also naturally warm and welcoming.
“What we lack sometimes, however, is a positive outlook for the industry and a belief that a career in tourism can be one of the most rewarding. By joining at the Big Conversation event, we can tap into our collective passion for tourism and hospitality, and recognise that together we can create an exceptional resource for all tourism businesses across Wales.”