Around 100 high school sophomores from the Coachella Valley’s K-12 school districts recently had their passports stamped — not for international travel, but as part of the inaugural Student Hospitality Day, where they explored career pathways in the desert’s top industry: hospitality.

“We just want to show young people that there’s lots of opportunity, particularly in a place like the Coachella Valley, where hospitality is our No.1 industry,” said Lauren Bruggemans, director of sustainability and community engagement with Visit Greater Palm Springs.

High school sophomores across the Coachella Valley’s K-12 school districts got a firsthand look at the wide-ranging career opportunities in hospitality at the inaugural Student Hospitality Day on April 1, hosted by Visit Greater Palm Springs at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert.

While the goal is to make Student Hospitality Day an annual event, Visit Greater Palm Springs is already looking ahead to its summer leadership program. Piloted last summer with students from Coachella Valley High School’s tourism academy, the intensive six-week program saw six students immerse themselves in hospitality training. Of those, four have chosen to pursue careers in hospitality, with plans to enter hospitality management programs in college.

“I could tell you from the first week to the end, we saw such a change in their confidence, their public speaking abilities and the way they were talking about hospitality and tourism,” she said.

This summer, Visit Greater Palm Springs plans to expand the program, extending the opportunity to students across the Coachella Valley.

“We are always reiterating this message: we believe in you, we support you,” Bruggemans said, “And how can we connect you to your next opportunity?”