More than 300 students from San Diego Unified’s Culinary Arts and Management courses got the opportunity to tour local hotels and restaurants and hear from industry executives as part of the 16th annual High School Hospitality Conference at the Convention Center. Organized by San Diego State University’s Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism with help from San Diego Unified, the conference was designed to prepare students who are already enrolled in the hospitality and culinary programs for careers they can expect post-graduation.
Superintendent Cindy Marten kicked off the conference by addressing the students. A panel discussion followed and then students departed for tours of downtown hotels, restaurants and the Convention Center.
Students from Mira Mesa, Morse, Madison, Scripps Ranch, Hoover, and Garfield high schools attended the conference.
Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Program Director Carl Winston called the event a win-win-win.
“When we first started, we expected it to become a ‘feeder’ for our school,” Winston said. “And, while we do get students enrolled, it has become far more important for our current students who act as mentors to the high school students. This helps our students develop their leadership skills which in turn makes them even better future leaders for the local industry.”
For more information, please contact Angela Croce, CCTE Program Specialist, at acroce@sandi.net.
Information for this article was courtesy of the San Diego Convention Center.
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