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Unit 2 Exploring Careers in Family and Consumer Sciences
cooking shows on television perpetuates the
ideal of the “flashy” chef. However, is it a real
career, and is it feasible?
The answer is yes. There are many success-
ful executive chefs around the world who find
a high level of satisfaction in what they do. The
executive chef is in charge of the menu planning
and food preparation in a restaurant. Executive
chefs are interested in the ingredients, aesthetic
appeal, and nutritional content of the menu.
They select menu items that appeal to customer
tastes and preferences and work with the gen-
eral manager to place food orders, check deliver-
ies, and establish quality guidelines.
Executive chefs often work long and chaotic
hours. They “pay their dues” as sous-chefs, cater-
ing managers, kitchen or banquet managers,
pastry chefs, or as other culinary staff. During
Issues in the News
Security and Safety
Growing concerns over
traveler safety and security
have had profound effects on
the hospitality industry. Many
facets of the industry have been
forced to change the way they
conduct business in order to
provide both real and perceived
safety and security. For some
parts of the industry, such as
airlines, this has resulted in
loss of revenue due to traveler
fluctuations and the cost of
making travel safe and secure.
For passengers, this has added
to the cost of travel through
higher ticket prices. Safety and
security are not just a financial
concern of the hospitality
industry service providers;
they are also a concern of
government.
Tourism and the subsequent
hospitality industry provide
great economic resources to
most developed areas of the
world. Loss of tourism translates
into lost jobs.
When you travel
domestically or abroad, the
odds are in your favor that you
will have a safe and incident-
efforts assure customers of safe
travel.
Local Crime
Local crime is a concern for
many travelers. For the hospitality
industry, it is a matter of concern
for guests and the financial
well-being of their establishment.
Hospitality providers can supply
information about the history,
culture, customs, and politics
of an area so guests can be
informed about potential risks.
Helping guests with transportation
to and from local establishments
and providing readily accessible
addresses, phone numbers,
and directions to and from their
establishments can help insure
safety. Hospitality providers can
also provide safety officers and
escorts for tourists. Local crime
is a concern for marketing and
sales, as negative publicity can
greatly affect the tourist trade.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters cannot be
forecast. Hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes, tsunamis, and
other unexpected natural
free trip. However, concerns
for safety and security have
escalated in most parts of the
world. Crime, political unrest,
and violence, as well as
unexpected exposure to disease
or natural disasters, happen to
travelers in all parts of the world.
Disease
A traveler’s risk of disease
or illness cannot always be
determined. For example, an
outbreak of a particular strain of
flu on a cruise ship may not be
identified until after many travelers
have become ill. However, the
presence of disease outbreaks,
such as malaria, at travel
destinations can be noted and
steps can be taken to prevent
infection. Sources of information
include the Centers for Disease
Control (cdc.gov/travel/) and
the World Health Organization
(who.int/ith/en/). This information
is important to travelers and
hospitality industry professionals
who help travelers plan their trips.
For food service and lodging
service providers that are located
in areas of concern, marketing