New workforce initiative connects local youth to jobs and career pathways in hospitality and tourism
ANNAPOLIS, MD– The Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Foundation today announced the launch of Backstage Pass: Careers in Tourism, a structured workforce development program designed to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the region’s hospitality and tourism industry. As the charitable arm of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, the Foundation created Backstage Pass to strengthen the local workforce through education, training, and clear career pathways that connect young people to high‑demand jobs, transforming tourism from a “first job” into a long‑term, sustainable career ladder.
“Backstage Pass was created to meet a critical need in our industry,” said Shannon Harcum, executive director of the Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Foundation. “Our mission is to invest in and sustain a strong hospitality workforce, and that starts with helping young people see that tourism offers far more than a first job. By connecting education, training, and real employment opportunities, Backstage Pass keeps local talent local and opens the door to long‑term careers in management, culinary arts, operations, finance, and beyond. This program strengthens families, supports employers, and builds the resilient, inclusive workforce our region needs to thrive.”
Launched in 2023, the Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Foundation was established to invest in and sustain the region’s tourism and hospitality industry through mission aligned work that strengthens workforce development and drives innovation. Backstage Pass is the clearest expression of that mission— providing real exposure, real credentials, and real employment opportunities for youth and young adults across Anne Arundel County.
Designed to serve more than 100 youth and young adults each year, the program prioritizes low to moderate income communities, especially those within a three-mile radius of Live! Casino and Hotel and other major hospitality employers, where access to jobs is immediate and transportation barriers are reduced. While the initiative serves youth countywide, roughly 60 percent of participants come from the communities closest to opportunity. Built around participant realities—with stipends, flexible scheduling, and a diverse employer network—the model connects young people to attainable, upwardly mobile careers and long‑term economic stability.
“Backstage Pass represents a transformational step forward for our community,” said Jason Schwemer, chair of the Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Foundation Board of Trustees. “By meeting young people at every stage of their development—from early exposure in elementary school to skill‑building in high school and career advancement for young adults—this program creates a true pipeline from awareness to employment. By keeping local talent local, we’re strengthening families, supporting employers, and building the resilient, inclusive, and future‑ready workforce that Anne Arundel County and Maryland depend on.”
The program is built around a three‑tiered, year‑round model that supports participants from early awareness through employment. Many young people associate hospitality only with entry‑level roles, overlooking the broader landscape of higher‑wage opportunities. Backstage Pass expands that understanding early, helping youth see hospitality as a promising, upwardly mobile career. This comprehensive model includes recruitment, career fairs, job shadowing, CTA training, paid internships, and individualized career coaching.
- Career Exploration (Elementary & Middle School): Field trips, career exposure days, and early awareness activities introduce young students to the full breadth of the tourism and hospitality industry — including the higher‑paying, behind‑the‑scenes roles they rarely see.
- Career Pathways (High School): Mentorship, job‑readiness training, paid internships, and capstone experiences prepare teens for real‑world work environments while exposing them to the many professional pathways beyond entry‑level positions.
- Career Advancement (Ages 18–24): Participants earn Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) credentials, complete internships, and receive job‑placement support with local employers, connecting them directly to stable, higher‑wage opportunities.
The hospitality and tourism industry is one of Anne Arundel County’s most powerful economic engines, driven by a workforce that supports everything from visitor experiences to essential public services. In 2024, 7.2 million visitors generated $4.3 billion in spending in Anne Arundel County—nearly 20 percent of Maryland’s total visitor spend—including $11.9 million in daily visitor spending that flows directly into local businesses. This activity sustains more than 27,000 jobs, including more than 19,000 direct hospitality positions, representing 10 percent of all jobs in Anne Arundel County. The tourism and hospitality industry also produces $1.9 billion in labor income and contributes $460 million in state and local tax revenue within the county, helping fund parks, education, police and fire services, and infrastructure. Behind every one of these numbers is a workforce that keeps the region’s economy moving, making hospitality not just a sector of opportunity, but a cornerstone of community vitality and long‑term economic stability.
For more information about the Backstage Pass program or to support the Foundation’s workforce development efforts, visit www.vaaac.org.
About Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Foundation: Launched in 2023, the Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Foundation (VAAACF) is a nonprofit charitable arm (501c3) that works to invest in and sustain the tourism and hospitality industry through mission-adjacent work. To address ongoing labor shortages, in critical, high-growth sectors that support travel and tourism - such as restaurants and lodging - the VAAACF is working with partners to strengthen workforce development and drive innovation in the hospitality industry. Through strategic collaboration and forward-thinking approaches, the Foundation aims to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable hospitality workforce in Anne Arundel County, while supporting broader economic growth across Maryland.
