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MCHA announces community celebration for National Travel & Tourism Week and California Tourism Month

Monterey Bay F.C. festivities anchor May events honoring 26,000+ local hospitality employees MONTEREY, Calif., May 15, 2024 – As California’s tourism industry rebounds from a pandemic-related slowdown, upcoming events will recognize the friends and neighbors who keep local hospitality businesses running strong. On May 29, the Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) will hold a public […]

MCHA Hospitality Recognition Award Recipient, Keith DeFiebre, Cycling Team Reaches Historic 800-Win Milestone

The vaunted Keith DeFiebre Cycling Team p/b LUN Wheels cycling team made an unprecedented feat after clinching their 800th first-place win earlier this month. This rare milestone was officially announced by the team’s founder and team owner, Keith DeFiebre. 

Share The Good

An Open Letter to the Big Sur Community: On March 30th, my daughter and I were among those trapped in the Highway One Rocky Creek Slip Out. This letter is written with the hope that our overwhelming gratitude is communicated to all those in Monterey County and the Big Sur Community who took such wonderful […]

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2024 Pebble Beach Company Foundation Grant Recipients

For almost 50 years, Pebble Beach Company Foundation has been committed to improving our community by aligning our grant awards with the region’s best and most innovative youth-focused organizations.

The Culture of Community Engagement

Hospitality is a community-wide effort Back in the day, San Francisco’s burgeoning hub of drinking and dining warranted the establishment of a restaurant association to foster growth and support collaboration. Los Angles had one, as well. But Monterey County, the hospitality hub in the middle, was without the same governance, until some 20 or 30 […]

For hospitality professionals, helping others comes first

Any industry employing more than 25,000 people is positioned to make an impact, but that’s especially true of hospitality. As Monterey County’s second-largest industry, tourism generated $307 million in local and state taxes in 2022. Still, the hospitality’s real influence extends beyond revenues. Area hotels, restaurants, wineries, attractions and retailers give time and money to […]

Appreciating the Benefits of a Tourism-Based Community

From jobs to TOT funds, visitor spending supports the local economy Artists like John Steinbeck, Francis McComas and Henry Miller have long been inspired by Monterey County’s beauty. It’s no wonder that residents and tourists alike also treasure local landscapes, from sunrises over the bay to that signature green flash when the sun dips into […]

Community Connection

Monterey County CVB is Now See Monterey - After more than a decade of challenging visitors to “Grab Life by the Moments” the Monterey County CVB is taking a new path. With a new organization name and marketing campaign, See Monterey’s new brand reflects a renewed focus on the ways our destination is naturally connected, […]

Annual Rancho Cielo Program Culminates with MCHA Career Fair

Leading employers guide local Rancho Cielo, high school and college culinary students to explore careers in hospitality.  More than twenty leading hospitality employers welcomed Rancho Cielo and local area students on May 16 for Monterey County Hospitality Association’s (MCHA) Hospitality Career Fair at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. The Career Fair marked the culmination […]

Spotlight on Hospitality: Hospitality professionals connect with free wellness services

Last month, local hospitality employees enjoyed free biometric health assessments, personalized wellness coaching and nutritious snacks — including smoothies blended by bicycle power. The events were part of the first-ever Hospitality Industry Wellness Fair held at the Portola Hotel & Spa.The Monterey County Hospitality Association organized the event together with Montage Health and the Blue […]

Abigail Castillo pouring brut for a wedding ceremony at Folktale's Rose Vineyard

Spotlight on Hospitality: Local academic institutions train a new generation of hospitality professionals

Abigail Castillo was studying sustainable hospitality management at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) when she volunteered at a wine festival on the Colton Hall lawn. The experience introduced an enticing career path.  "I got a quick introduction and then I spent the whole day pouring wine and talking to people. I just fell in […]

Hospitality Generates Career Options, Educational Opportunities and Economic Success

Monterey County hospitality businesses are grateful to be welcoming back guests. For employees at local restaurants, hotels, wineries and attractions, recent months have been a time to safely reconnect with valued customers, colleagues and visitors. More than 27,000 people worked in Monterey County’s $3.24 billion tourism industry before the pandemic paused travel. Now, as businesses […]

Rancho Cielo prepares students for work and life success

As the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa’s lead engineer, Sam Arevalo tackles plumbing, painting, drywall installation, electrical work, HVAC maintenance and more. He's the team's second-in-command, making decisions in the chief engineer’s absence, and he's earned industry awards for his work. Arevalo landed at the 290-room resort by way of Rancho Cielo, the Salinas facility […]

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MCHA Honors Hospitality Professionals of the Year at Annual Event

(Monterey, CA) – The Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) will honor two Hospitality Professionals of the Year on Friday, April 8th at their Annual Awards Gala, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. The 2020 award will be presented to Teddy Balestreri, Executive Vice President of Hospitality Operations and Community Relations, Cannery Row Company, followed by the […]

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MCHA honors 2019 hospitality award winners

MCHA to Honor the 2019 Hospitality Professional of the Year Tony Salameh, Owner of Anton & Michel Restaurant, Carmel and will present a Lifetime Achievement Award in Memory of Ben Pon, Founder, Owner, Developer and Visionar of Bernardus Winery, Bernardus Lodge & Spa and Will’s Fargo.

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MCHA honors 2017 hospitality award winners

MCHA to Honor the 2017 Hospitality Professional of the Year Chris Shake, CEO, Shake Enterprises and present a Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Pierre Bain, Owner, Fandango Restaurant

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MCHA honors 2015 hospitality award winners

MCHA to Honor the 2015 Hospitality Professional of the Year Janine Chicourrat, General Manager, Portola Hotel & Spa and present a
Lifetime Achievement Award honoring former President and Golf Professional of Quail Lodge to William Lawson Little III.

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