With dozens of national and state parks, picturesque beach resorts, world-class music festivals and amusement parks, California is known around the globe as a travel destination. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the tourism industry, the sector is set to rebound. When it does, the state will need those troops of trained hospitality professionals: hotel and restaurant managers, event planners, tour operators and marketers.
To meet this demand, California State University, San Bernardino launched a new hospitality management program at the Palm Desert campus. The Coachella Valley is home to more than 120 golf courses, numerous private clubs, ample vacation rental properties, extensive culinary experiences, and an array of popular destinations and major entertainment, sporting and film industry events, all attracting substantial audiences. This region boasts a $7.5 billion hospitality and tourism industry that employs 22 percent of local workers thanks to its extensive collection of golf courses, rental properties, resorts and events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival—which alone draws 99,000 people per festival day. Tourism - particularly involving younger generations - is on the rise.
With escalating demands for well-educated hospitality professionals, the emerging hospitality management program will be positioned to play a vital role in meeting industry expectations. Sixteen new hotels, including a mix of economical and high-end luxury brands and water park, are expected to open over the next five years, adding more than 2,200 rooms to the region's existing 14,880.
