Students to learn about hospitality

Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel will participate in the fourth annual National Groundhog Job Shadow Day on Feb. 1 at the hotel, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village.

Students from Newbury Park, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Westlake High Schools as well as students from Moorpark College will have the opportunity to shadow hotel employees such as general manager, front desk clerk, chef and concierge as they go through their typical workday.

Students will experience part of Hyatt’s new employee orientation and receive their own Hyatt picture I.D.

After lunch in the employee cafeteria, students will end their "work day" with a creative presentation of their experiences "on the job" as well as follow-up discussion with various hotel employees.

"This is a great chance for students to experience all that goes on in a hotel behind the scenes and get a taste of the opportunities in the hospitality industry," said David Lewin, the hotel’s general manger.

The job shadow program is sponsored by Junior Achievement, the American Society of Association Executives, School to Work and America’s Promise.

It allows students to get an up-close look at how the skills they learn in school are put into action in the workplace.