While revenues generated by the visitor economy are critical to Chicago’s overall economic vitality, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) talent and leadership remains underrepresented in the city’s tourism and hospitality industries. In an effort to lower barriers to accessing careers in the industry, Choose Chicago will collaborate with United Airlines and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) on the first Events Track apprenticeship for 2023–24 in partnership with Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM). United Airlines will contribute funding for this Apprenticeship Program, and PCMA has committed to full-time employment, benefiting one lucky candidate selected to complete this competitive program.
“The future of Chicago’s tourism and hospitality industry depends on connecting promising young talent to fulfilling careers,” says Lynn Osmond, president and CEO of Choose Chicago, in a prepared statement. “This apprenticeship program is one of the ways that we are working to establish a pipeline of talented young people who want to work in events, hotels, restaurants, or other tourism-adjacent businesses. I encourage all our partners to invest in workforce development and to lead by example by committing resources to career exploration and internship opportunities.”
Greg DeShields, executive director of TDM, adds, “At TDM, we are passionate about creating equitable opportunities for everyone to succeed in their chosen career. We are thrilled to partner with Choose Chicago, United Airlines, and PCMA on the apprenticeship program. This program is an important step toward creating a more diverse and inclusive industry.”
The apprentice will gain 600 hours of experience working at Choose Chicago, PCMA, and United Airlines, and receive a monthly stipend, paid travel expenses, and job placement upon successful completion of the program.
“The PCMA Foundation is passionate about powering the future of the global business events industry,” says Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA and Corporate Event and Marketing Association president and CEO. “Providing a future leader with access to the amazing teams and experiences at Choose Chicago, PCMA, and United Airlines is the foundation for a journey full of possibilities and transformation with access and exposure to this wonderful industry.”
As a global airline focused on connecting people, United works to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture to reflect the communities in which they work, live, and fly— whether in Chicago or around the world.
“We’re proud to partner with Choose Chicago again this year and support their EDI Apprenticeship Program to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace,” says Glenn Hollister, vice president of sales strategy and effectiveness at United Airlines. “This collaboration is just one example of how we take action to build equitable access to careers in aviation.”
The apprentice will receive invaluable experience planning a large-scale event and also be exposed to local stakeholders, clients, and community partners.