THLA Awarded for Education & Workforce Development Efforts

The Texas Hotel & Lodging Association is proud to announce that THLA received a national award for the best Education/Workforce Development program in the nation from the International Society of Hotel Associations.   

The national award was given to THLA for our work in developing and hosting three THLA “High School Hotel Summer Camps” during the summer of 2022. The award recognizes a program or project that best demonstrates an effective training mechanism and enhances knowledge of our industry.

The THLA Hotel Summer Camps provided over 150 Texas high school students and their teachers with an opportunity to experience the hotel industry from the front-of-the-house as a guest, and from the back-of-the-house as a future staff member.

The students and teachers received an overview of the hotel industry from hotel industry leaders such as Steve Cunningham, General Manager of the Hilton University Hotel and Greg White, Manager of the Westin Galleria Dallas. 

The camps introduced students and teachers to the array of exciting potential careers within the hotel industry.

It also included a tour of the area college that offers a hotel program (e.g.; the University of Houston and the University of North Texas). Participants also toured an additional full-service hotel property including the San Luis Resort & Spa for Houston participants and the Hilton Anatole for North Texas participants. 

During these tours, the participants were provided inspiring talks by department managers at these hotels about their career progression and current leadership positions.

In addition to learning about the hotel industry, students attended sessions on SMART Goalsetting, How to Present Yourself in a Digital World, and Job Search Strategies.

The sessions were presented by college professors and community business leaders. Camp participants also earned a Texas Friendly Hospitality Ambassador Customer Service Certification while at camp.

Each of the camps culminated with a College and Career Fair which provided students the opportunity to practice the skills gained during the camp to interact with hotel college and hotel employer representatives to consider future education and career opportunities as well as potential summer employment.

A number of the major hotel brands were represented at the college and career fairs and were able to interact with the students about opportunities that exist within the hotel industry at their properties.

THLA is thrilled to announce plans to again offer the THLA High School Hotel Summer Camps in summer 2023:

• Dallas – June 19-21, 2023 Omni Dallas Hotel
• San Antonio – June 19-21, 2023 Hilton Palacios del Rio
• Houston – June 28-30, 2023 Hilton University of Houston

Additional details can be found on our THLA website: https://texaslodging.com/hotel-summer-camps/

Please contact Debbie Wieland, THLA Education Outreach & Foundation Director at for more information on how to participate as a sponsor, presenter, or participant.

2022 Education & Workforce Development Award