Why HTM?

Why I’m Pursuing Hospitality and Tourism Management?

Since my mid-twenties, I’ve had a passion for coordinating events; I enjoyed creating experiences for others to enjoy. Back in 2008, I began looking into making my passion into a career. That was when I started searching for event jobs and learned that companies were asking for a bachelor’s degree in event planning. I was not even aware that hospitality was a major, so it was incredibly exciting to find out about the existence of an option to focus on meetings and events.

Due to life circumstances, I was unable to attend a university to earn that degree. Instead, I began marketing myself as a virtual assistant and specifically reached out to small businesses seeking to organize events. This is where I was first introduced to conventions. I worked for the CEO of The Creative Talent Network and helped develop her dream of producing a convention geared towards industry professionals and students. With 12 to 14 hour days, the work was grueling by the time we got down to one month prior to the show. The actual event had me on my feet for 14 hours a day, three days in a row. My feet had never hurt so much and I had never appreciated coffee so much. The comfort of the hotel bedding was all that I could think of by the end of the second night. We closed the doors on the last night of the convention, and gathered the exhibitors, panelists and speakers for a toast. In that moment, like the day I became a mother, I knew: this is what I am meant for.

When I stop to think about what actually excites my passion for events, I think of the rush of attendees once the doors open, training and instilling excitement into team members, and putting out the small fires which are bound to happen. Everything about event day is what makes my heart race. The endless paperwork, meetings and negotiations working up to the event are a fun build-up, because I can see the final product in my head and I know that we are taking steps toward making wonderful memories for hundreds of attendees.

Now, here I am 15 years later and six months from graduating with my degree in hospitality management with an emphasis in meetings and events. I’ve gone from being an entry-level event coordinator all the way to earning my position as a co-producer. I currently produce my company’s annual in-person lecture, hosting approximately 700 attendees, and a live stream audience. Additionally, I’ve worked at the Chula Vista Amphitheater over this past summer to gain experience working in live music production. I truly love everything about events and I’m looking forward to continuing my education and experience in every aspect of event management.