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February 4, 2026 — On February 2, 2026, hotels across Texas partnered with the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association (THLA) to host high school students for Groundhog Job Shadow Day — a statewide initiative
designed to connect students with real-world hospitality career experiences.
Students from Mrs. Patton-Payne’s Event/Meeting Planning class at Legacy High School shadowed hotel professionals across departments such as front desk, housekeeping, food & beverage, engineering, and sales & events.
“This job shadowing event was such a great experience! I was impressed by all of the different jobs that go into running a hospitality business,” shared McKayla Chairez, a junior from LHS.
Participating hotels included SpringHill Suites, Hampton Inn, and Insignia Corporate Office, which welcomed students and shared insight into daily operations, teamwork, and career opportunities. Hotel leaders emphasized the value of mentorship and workforce development, noting that today’s students are tomorrow’s general managers, chefs, and hospitality innovators.
“All of the team members were so professional, with such a strong work ethic. The job shadowing made me even more interested in pursuing a career in this field!” said Mandy Reyes, a senior at LHS.
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