Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) will honor the Hospitality Professional of the Year on Friday, March 31st at their Annual Awards Gala at Portola Hotel & Spa. This year’s honoree, Chef Bert Cutino, CMC, Cofounder/C.O.O. of The Sardine Factory Restaurant will be recognized for his on-going service and commitment to the local hospitality industry.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta, the U.S. House of Representatives member for California’s 20th district, landed his first hospitality job in the seventh grade. Panetta rode his BMX bike to work at the Velvet Fox, a former Carmel Valley restaurant where he bussed tables. “I was a busboy until I spilled tartar sauce on a lady's dress, […]

Susanna Hoffman’s journey to a tourism degree began at Noodle Bar, in her hometown of Marina. The restaurant job she started at age 16 sparked an interest in hospitality, and she gained additional industry experience as a Monterey Bay Aquarium volunteer. Then, a high school counselor told Hoffman about hospitality and event planning courses at […]

MCHA recognizes one local student annually with a scholarship opportunity to study Hospitality and Tourism.  Susanna Hoffman is from Marina, California and is a College Senior studying Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Administration at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her concentration is Event Planning and Experience Management. For the last year, she has been working four […]

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 […]

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 […]

Prepare yourself to enter the workforce, or advance in the hospitality industry, with a Sustainable Food and Beverage Management Associate Degree!  This degree program prepares students to work in the food and beverage industry. Students master the management skills necessary to work in both large and small operations, including restaurants, hotels, resorts, hospitals, schools, retirement […]

MPC Hospitality Program - Pastry Class 2022 Options for Enrollment Enroll for college credit or non-credit, professional development only**Contact Outreach@mpc.edu for non-credit, cost saving options Enroll in Fall or Spring: MPC Enrollment Information Scholarships available: The MPC Financial Aid Office and the Monterey County Workforce Development Board -Job Seeker Services have financial assistance available for […]

Options for Enrollment Enroll for college credit or non-credit, professional development only**Contact Outreach@mpc.edu for non-credit, cost saving options Enroll in Fall or Spring: MPC Enrollment Information Scholarships available: The MPC Financial Aid Office and the Monterey County Workforce Development Board -Job Seeker Services have financial assistance available for those who qualify. The Wine Professional Level […]

Andrea Ferrara joined the Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside in 2009. She viewed her new front desk job as a temporary post-college stop, but six months later, the hotel offered her a group rooms coordinator position. Ferrara enjoyed the work, and more promotions followed. Within five years, she became the property’s director of sales and events.

MCHA recognizes one local student annually with a scholarship opportunity to study Hospitality and Tourism.  "I am entering my senior year at San Jose State University studying Hospitality, Tourism, & Event Management. My grandfather was a successful hotel general manager for over 50 years. He instilled in me that to be successful in hospitality I “must have […]