Let Hospitality Take You Higher in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Step into Asheville’s scenic charm where The Omni Grove Park Inn has been greeting guests with southern elegance since 1912. This iconic hotel blends historic architecture with natural beauty, offering a unique setting for a world-class hospitality experience.
As a trainee, you’ll be part of a property known for excellence. Choose your path in Rooms Division or Culinary Arts, and gain hands-on experience while enjoying the fresh mountain air and welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you’re training at the front desk or rotating through the pastry kitchen, this program helps you build real-world skills in a setting that inspires personal and professional growth.
The Omni Grove Park Inn is the perfect launchpad for anyone passionate about hospitality, providing the structure, mentorship, and environment to help you thrive.
Program Highlights
What You’ll Do on the Program
Rooms Division Program
Gain front-line experience in:
- Front Desk
- Concierge
- PBX (Phone Operations)
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Minimum Hours: 32 per week
Culinary Arts Program
Develop your kitchen skills through rotations in:
- Grill Station / Hot Line
- Pastry Operations
- Garde Manger
- Chocolate and Pastry
- Live Stations
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Minimum Hours: 32 per week
Both programs include expert mentorship, supportive teams, and plenty of opportunities to grow.
Participants on this program will be required to obtain a J-1 Intern or Trainee visa through Yummy Jobs and will be able to train for a period of time as outlined by the Omni Grove Park Inn. Upon completion of the program, participants will have up to 30 days to travel within the United States. Participants must then return to their home country upon completion of the program.
Property Information
Surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Omni Grove Park Inn has offered unmatched hospitality for over a century. Built in 1912, the resort blends historical charm with luxury features:
- Subterranean spa with indoor pool and tranquil treatment rooms
- Donald Ross-designed championship golf course
- Four locally sourced restaurants offering farm-to-table cuisine
The setting, the staff, and the services all combine to create an exceptional experience for guests and interns alike.
The Chefs
Meet the Pastry Pro: John Cook
Executive Pastry Chef, The Omni Grove Park Inn
If you’ve ever had a dessert at The Omni Grove Park Inn that made you stop mid-bite and say wow — you’ve got John Cook to thank.
As Executive Pastry Chef, John leads the Inn’s talented pastry team in crafting showstopping sweets for eight restaurants and lounges, plus in-room dining and banquet events. From delicate chocolates to towering cakes, he’s the creative force behind every last sprinkle.
Before joining the Grove Park Inn, John spent 13 years rising through the ranks at Norman Love Confections in Fort Myers, Florida — going from entry-level cook to executive pastry chef and production manager of the entire chocolate factory. He also spent a decade teaching pastry, baking, and chocolate work to aspiring chefs, because why not share the magic?
A Fort Lauderdale native, John studied culinary arts and international baking at Florida Culinary Institute. He’s trained under the legendary Chef Ewald Notter, studied at the Cocoa-Barry School of Chocolate in Montreal, and in 2017, was crowned Pastry Chef of the Year at the U.S. Pastry Competition. Basically, if it involves sugar, he’s mastered it.
Now, he’s bringing that award-winning flair to every slice, scoop, and swirl at Grove Park Inn — and turning dessert into an experience worth remembering.
