KC bars and restaurants prep for World Cup boon with April 22 service industry hiring fair

Restaurant staff at Triune // Photo by Zach Bauman

Calling all servers, cooks, baristas, dishwashers, drivers, housekeepers, and side-hustlers…

Later this month, Kansas City restaurant, hotel, and attraction-based employers want to meet you and join forces to prepare for the influx of visitors this summer. Hiring plans are underway for all levels and roles in the service industry, and there is a need for all ages and experience levels.

“This job fair is about making sure our hotels, restaurants, and attractions are fully staffed and ready to welcome the world for the 2026 World Cup, but it’s also about something bigger. It’s about championing hospitality year-round and connecting people to meaningful, long-term careers in an industry that thrives on people, service, and possibility,” says Andrea O’Hara, Executive Director for the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City.

The Hospitality Career Fair is the result of local collaboration between The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association (GKCRA), Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City (HLA), Greater Kansas City Area Attractions Association, and Summit Technical Academy’s (STA) Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation Management class.

The event will take place at Hy-Vee Arena on April 22 at 9  – 11 a.m. for high school and college students at least 18 years old (must register to attend) and 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. for the public.

Over 40 hotels, restaurants, and attractions are registered to table at the event, including Sheraton, Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City, Worlds of Fun, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Culver’s, and many more.

“Restaurants are the heart of Kansas City’s hospitality scene. We’re not just serving meals; we’re creating experiences that define what our city is known for warmth, creativity, and community,” says Trey Meyers, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association. “This job fair gives aspiring professionals the chance to join that story, learn core hospitality skills, and take the first steps toward a rewarding career in a field that feeds both people and passion.”

Students over the age of 18 and enrolled in high school, college, and training programs have their own time slot. This is designed specifically to support the new generation entering the workforce, and was created in part by hospitality and tourism students at Summit Technical Academy.

Restaurant staff at Triune // Photo by Zach Bauman

Restaurant or hospitality experience is not required, according to Meyers. Two things that may help candidates stand out are fluency in more than one language and broader availability, since many establishments may extend their hours of service.

“We, absolutely, will take people who’ve never had a single hour of experience in a restaurant, hotel, or attraction, because, quite frankly, our industry is very trainable,” says Meyers. In fact, with a majority of area establishments fully staffed, Meyers is hoping this event will not only capitalize on standard hospitality turnover rates but capture those outside the industry.

“Many of our restaurants are opening up new locations prior to the World Cup, for example, I know Third Street Social is opening up a new location in Olathe, and Q39 has opened up a new one in Lawrence. But the other reason why we did this is that we have seen massive layoffs across multiple industries. For example, Oracle just laid off 30,000 people nationwide, and 500 of them were here in Kansas City. So most people, when they get laid off or are looking to make ends meet, they turn to hospitality.”

What happens when that familiar fallback or dream career comes with targeted attacks?

Service industry workers themselves are taking charge with workshops, and the GKCRA has provided guidance for restaurants on what to do if ICE approaches their establishments, stressing the signed judicial warrant requirement and the protection of private spaces.

“Our industry got impacted the most from all these ICE raids,” says Meyers. “But for an event like this, our operators are still hiring people who are of legal status. Essentially, as long as you have a visa, work permit, or you’re a citizen, we are not a discriminatory entity whatsoever. I mean, if you look at many of our restaurants, we take pride in our cultures. Asian cuisine, Southern cuisine, that’s the best thing about Kansas City – you can get a taste of everything all over the globe.”

Admission is free and open to all, but students must register for the morning session. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and to wear professional attire. Employers looking to hire and have a free table at this career fair, registration is available here.