Visit Greater Palm Springs looks to inspire next generation of hospitality leaders

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Visit Greater Palm Springs is presenting a career day to 100 high school sophomores with an interest in careers in hospitality and tourism. The organization said it hopes to inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders.

With tourism being the No. 1 industry in the Coachella Valley – generating a $9 billion economic impact – organizers like Visit Greater Palm Springs Director of Sustainability and Community Engagement Lauren Bruggemans hope the career day engages and educates students on a bright future in the hospitality workforce.

"We wanted to show the richness and breadth of hospitality careers to young people in our community," Bruggemans said. "There are so many rewarding pathways in the hospitality and tourism industry."

The Student Hospitality Day will host students from all three school districts across the Valley and provide diverse educational presentations on different aspects of hospitality and tourism.

Informative sessions:

• Hospitality 101
• Sales & Events
• Marketing & Social Media
• Professional Journeys

Some students said they have aspirations for a career in hospitality, and even if they change their mind the skills they've learned through hospitality courses are invaluable.

Students with the School of Tourism at Coachella Valley High School were among the nearly 100 other teens at Student Hospitality Day. They said with their academy and extra learning opportunities, they know where their future is headed.

"Coming into this academy and understanding more on what hospitality is, it opened up doors for me," CVHS student Aleah Salzar said.

"It taught me a lot of discipline and taught me maturity, how to be responsible and independent," CVHS student Gabriela Moreno said. "It shows me a little bit of what my future might look like if I go into the hospitality industry."

Bruggemans said showing job opportunities to the Valley youth is personally important to her. She came up with the idea for Student Hospitality Day and hopes it greatly helps teens in the career paths.

"I'm a Palm Springs local," Bruggemans said. "It's so rewarding for me to come back to my home to give back to my community and to work with young people."

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from organizers and students about Student Hospitality Day.