Industry Tours

Join us for an immersive, 3-hour tour through downtown Nashville designed specifically for educators looking to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce.

This isn’t just a sightseeing trip—it’s a deep dive into how Nashville’s thriving businesses are partnering with local schools to create authentic, real-world learning opportunities.

What to Expect

Step outside the conference center and see Nashville through a new lens. You will visit a curated selection of local businesses and hear directly from industry leaders who are actively shaping the future workforce.

• Discover Innovative Partnerships: Learn how organizations are engaging students through internships, mentorships, classroom visits and project-based collaborations.
• Gain Actionable Strategies: Walk away with concrete ideas and models for building or strengthening your own community partnerships back home.
• Witness Real-World Impact: See firsthand how authentic industry engagement sparks student interest and expands career awareness.

Experience Nashville Your Way

We know you’re here to learn, but we also want you to enjoy the city! The tour includes transportation from the conference hotel to all locations.

At the conclusion of the tour, you have two options:

• Return to the Hotel: Take the provided transportation directly back to the conference venue.
• Stay and Play: Once you have finished the tour, you will have the option to stay downtown so you can enjoy dinner, live music and the vibrant culture of Music City at your own pace. (Note: Return transportation is not provided if you choose to stay downtown.)

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, July 15
• Time: 2:30-5:30
• Duration: 3 Hours
• Cost: $60 (Includes transportation during the tour), plus the cost of conference registration
• ** Participating Businesses:** See the full tour details below.

Tours

In 2026, we are offering two different tour options for you to choose from. 

Tour A: Arts, Culture and Hospitality

This tour includes the Country Music Hall of Fame, Hilton and the Frist.

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most visited museums to see how they utilize professional development and STEAM-based “Science of Sound” programs to engage K-12 students. You’ll learn about their extensive internship tracks—ranging from creative content and live production to event management—that help students find a path into the $16 billion music industry.
• Hilton Nashville Downtown: Step into the heart of the hospitality sector to learn about Hilton’s “Early Talent” initiatives. Discover how this global leader uses 10-week summer internships and management development programs to transition students from the classroom into high-level hotel operations and corporate leadership roles.
• The Frist Art Museum: Explore how a premier arts institution serves as a community laboratory. Learn about how they won an Excellence in Volunteer Engagement award and all about their educator workshops that provide teachers with tangible strategies to integrate visual literacy and critical thinking back into their local school curricula.

Tour B: Innovation, Heritage and Hospitality

This tour highlights how global brands and cultural institutions are creating on-campus learning labs and direct hiring pipelines for Nashville students.

It includes Omni, Bridgestone Firestone and the National Museum of African American Music.

• Bridgestone Firestone Automotive Training Center: Visit a one-of-a-kind, fully operational Firestone Complete Auto Care store located directly on the campus of Maplewood High School. You will see how this unique partnership between Metro Nashville Public Schools and Bridgestone Americas functions as both a retail business and a student learning lab. Learn how students rotate through every role—from mechanical repairs to customer service and shop management—earning professional ASE certifications and a direct hiring pipeline to careers at Nashville-area Bridgestone locations.
• Omni Nashville Hotel: Explore the massive operations of a premier luxury hotel that serves as a major engine for Nashville’s workforce. Learn about their commitment to youth development through programs like “Leader in Development,” which provides graduating seniors and students with a structured path into hospitality management. Discover how the Omni partners with local schools to demystify careers in sales, culinary arts and hotel operations, offering students a clear professional trajectory straight out of school.
• National Museum of African American Music: Experience the only museum in the world dedicated to preserving the legacy of African American music. Hear about their Soundtrack for All program and their academic partnerships that use student internships and research fellowships to prepare young people for careers in cultural preservation, digital archives and the arts.

Add to Your Registration Today

Spaces are limited for this off-site experience. Secure your spot when you register for the conference to ensure you don’t miss this unique opportunity to see how Nashville connects classrooms to careers.

Register for the 2026 Conference