08/27/2026
What can happen when students experience their future careers beyond the classroom?
Two hospitality management students from the Cal State San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus - Natalie Perez and Melanie Martinez-Chavez - joined Visit Greater Palm Springs in Portland, Ore. earlier this summer for the Destinations International Annual Convention - their first tourism industry conference and an opportunity to see firsthand where a career in hospitality can lead.
Destinations International is the world’s largest global association for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus and tourism boards. It supports more than 7,500 professionals across dozens of countries by providing advocacy, research, professional development and industry standards to help communities thrive through travel.
Over three days, Natalie and Melanie attended educational sessions, connected with destination leaders from around the world, explored new ideas shaping the future of tourism, and experienced some of Portland's iconic places along the way.
“One of the most impactful parts of the conference for me was listening to a guest speaker who spoke about public speaking and how even experienced speakers can feel anxious before presenting," said Natalie. "She explained that instead of viewing those feelings as anxiety, we can train ourselves to see them as excitement because our bodies respond in similar ways, which really changed the way I think about presenting. I also enjoyed connecting with professionals in the industry, especially having the opportunity to speak with someone who shared her career journey with me and gave me advice that I can carry with me as I begin my own career.”
Experiences like this give local students more than industry knowledge - they help build professional networks, expand career possibilities and show that the skills they're developing here in the Coachella Valley can open doors around the world. 🌍🌴🏨🌵
teamgreaterps Visit Greater Palm Springs CSUSB Marketing Department Jack H. Brown College
