The Marina del Rey Tourism Board's second annual Career Day successfully introduced nearly 50 local high school students to diverse career paths in tourism and hospitality during a comprehensive Saturday event that featured guided tours, hands-on learning experiences and networking opportunities.
The Aug. 2 event, organized in partnership with the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, gave students from local Boys & Girls Clubs and Children's Institute firsthand exposure to the Marina's thriving hospitality sector through visits to five key venues: the Marina del Rey Sheriff's Station, City Cruises, FantaSea Yachts, Jamaica Bay Inn and The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey.
"We're proud to help local students explore the many exciting and meaningful career paths that tourism and hospitality have to offer," said Janet Zaldua, CEO of Marina del Rey Tourism Board. "Together with the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, we're excited to have reached even more students at our second annual Career Day as they begin to think about their future careers."
The program addressed a critical need to connect young people with an industry that serves as a major economic engine for the region. Marina del Rey hosted 529,000 overnight visitors and 517,000 day visitors in 2024, generating $617 million in economic impact and supporting 4,100 local jobs.
Supervisor Mitchell emphasized the event's importance in expanding access to career opportunities within a key sector of the local economy.
"I'm proud to partner with the Marina del Rey Tourism Board to help increase awareness and expand access to the wide range of opportunities within the hospitality sector," Mitchell said. "Events like this are essential for connecting more young people to careers in an industry that continues to be a major economic driver for our Marina del Rey community and throughout the County."
The day's programming was designed to inspire students while providing practical insights into various career trajectories. Many industry leaders who participated in the event shared their own journeys from entry-level positions to senior leadership roles, demonstrating the advancement opportunities available within the sector.
"The tourism and hospitality industry is always looking for passionate and enthusiastic talent," Zaldua said. "We hope that by planting the seeds of inspiration, local students will begin exploring a career path that they may not have considered before."
For participating youth organizations, the event represented a valuable opportunity to expose students to career possibilities they might not have previously considered.
"Opportunities like Marina del Rey Career Day are invaluable to the youth we serve at Children's Institute LAUNCH program, a youth driven program supporting at-risk and system-involved youth in achieving goals in education, wellness, employment, and more," said Angelica Sanchez, Launch Program Supervisor at Children's Institute. "By exposing youth to various real-world careers, especially careers they might have not considered, they can begin to envision a future filled with purpose, stability, and opportunity."
The event concluded with a celebratory lunch at Jamaica Bay Inn's Beachside Restaurant, where students received certificates from Supervisor Mitchell's office. Participants also received raffle prizes and other giveaways recognizing their engagement throughout the day.
The Career Day built upon the Marina's existing youth outreach efforts, including individual programs offered by hotels and restaurants, the Sheriff Department's Explorer's Program and City Cruises' Waterbus summer job opportunities. The collaborative approach allowed students to explore multiple career paths within a single comprehensive experience.
Tourism revenue generated through hotel bed taxes directly supports community programs including summer concerts, the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, movie nights in parks and weekly food truck events, creating a direct connection between the industry and community benefits.
The success of the second annual event positions the Marina del Rey Tourism Board to continue expanding its youth outreach efforts, potentially reaching even more students in future years while strengthening the pipeline of local talent for the region's hospitality industry.