How Well Do You Know The Hotel Industry?

How Well Do You Know The Hotel Industry? 

Take this quiz via our friends at HotelNewsNow!

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/30479/Quiz-How-well-do-you-know-the-hotel-industry

Johnson & Wales University’s Providence Campus Awards First Course-embedded Experiential Education (CEE) Certificates in Advanced Hospitality Sales

Johnson & Wales University’s Providence Campus Awards First Course-embedded Experiential Education (CEE) Certificates in Advanced Hospitality Sales

On Thursday, February 18, 2016 thirty JWU Providence Students received the first Course-embedded Experiential Education (CEE) Certificates for field experience in their Advanced Hospitality Sales course.

Johnson & Wales University, in support of the University’s core value of experiential and work-integrated learning developed the Experiential Education Attribute (EEA) that signifies a credit-bearing course in which a primary feature of the learning environment is the development and application of academic and professional skills in the context of work experience, service or a project that involves a “real life” community or industry partner.  This learning environment is used to achieve designated learning outcomes within an academic course.  These courses have Course-embedded Experiential Education (CEE). The project or service placement is intentionally designed to enhance student knowledge acquisition and course-related skill development while at the same time meeting an articulated need of the community or industry partner.

Johnson & Wales University’s School of Hospitality developed its Advanced Hospitality Sales Seminar course as a capstone sales course for students who wanted careers in sales or wanted to broaden their experience.  The course was built after extensive surveying of Directors of Sales and Marketing across the United States representing a broad spectrum of hospitality and tourism-based businesses.  The feedback showed that having sales experience, making presentations, and networking were skills needed for entry-level sales professionals.  Since the Advanced Hospitality Sales Seminar course first ran in 2012 students participate in a sales blitz for a local hotel company, complete research to create and deliver a full sales presentation, and participate in a professional networking event.  In the 2015-2016 academic year the Course-embedded Experiential Education (CEE) began.  Associate Professor Debbie Howarth, course author and professor applied for the CEE designation and the course was granted the designation because the sales blitz and networking event met the field and preparation time requirements, as well as the partnerships with industry professionals requirement.

One of the program’s long-time industry partners is the Providence Marriott Downtown. Donna D’Orio, Director of Catering stated on the relationship,

“Being in Sales for over 30 years and responsible for hiring sales associates as well, I know the benefit of this type of exercise for us but most importantly for your students.  You could truly see their enthusiasm today at our pre-meeting and am looking forward to another lucrative and rewarding blitz tomorrow.  If we could top the last 2 years sales numbers – what an exciting accomplishment that would be and something these students could document on their resumes as well.  I know this would be something I would be impressed with during an interview for a potential sales position” (2015). 

While sales positions are not guaranteed from this course past graduates have obtained sales positions from companies such as: Hyatt Hotels, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Swipely Restaurant Marketing, Hilton Worldwide, CVENT, Walt Disney Company, COTG – A Xerox Company, Basic American Foods, and Branches Catering to name a few.  Feedback from program alumni shows the importance of this field experience.

With your help and course projects, I was able to identify with what they needed and I was offered the position. So, I am the new Sales Administrator Assistant at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore right in front of the Inner Harbor. It's my first hotel experience and thus far I am truly enjoying it. Shaunice Stanley, CA-FSM Class of 2015

That was such a great experience and I put the sales blitz on my resume and everyone that I have spoken to interview wise with this company has asked about it so it really stands out on my resume! Thomas Kurza, Operator Sales Representative, Basic American Foods, CA-FSM Class of 2015

Julienne Chranowski, Manager - Global Accounts, from Helms Briscoe and JWU Adjunct Professor networking with Advanced Hospitality Sales students William Holley, Elizabeth Quinn, and Caroline Gaughan.

Winter 2015-2016 Advanced Hospitality Sales class with industry professionals: Ella Gonzalez, National Accounts - Providence/Warwick Convention & Visitors' Bureau; Dean Paul McVety, PhD. School of Hospitality; Courtney Nardozza and Nora Meah, Talent Business Partners from Swipely Restaurant Marketing and Julienne Chranowski, Manager - Global Accounts from Helms Briscoe. Not pictured: Dr. Karen Silva, EdD. Department Chair, International Hotel School.

Guest Services Class Collaborates with Women & Infants

Bringing the Hospitality Industry to the Medical Industry - Is it possible? 

This winter was the beginning of collaboration between Women & Infants and Johnson & Wales University.

HOSP1008 Winter Term Course has made this collaboration a class project. 

The overall mission of the joint project is to improve the healing environment.  Women & Infants would like the patients to feel nurtured, pampered and special.  The objective is to transform the building into a healing environment that furthers the goal of “Healthy Hospitality”.

Johnson & Wales University students enrolled in a section of our Guest Service course have recently completed an initial assessment of the building as part of a course term project.  The primary focus will be on the second floor.  Other aspects of the building are also considered.  Preliminary findings are enclosed in this report. 

As the medical industry expands, and baby boomers become older, it’s important for the medical industry to support hospitality best practices.

Johnson & Wales University continues to be a leader in research in regards to transforming the medical industry for a more hospitable environment. International Hotel School department chair, Karen Silva, Ed.D. recently presented about “Healthy Hospitality” and shared best practices to enhance the traditional medical experience into a transformative, welcoming and warm hospitality setting.

Below is a photo of HOSP1008 and representatives from Women & Infants.

Taking Risks — A must do for any JWU Student

A Junior Hotel & Lodging Management student shares his journey of risk taking while at JWU

Brian Goodman, Student Assistant - School of Hospitality 

In life there are plenty of tough decisions that you will have to face – for me, the biggest decision that I have made was to come to Johnson & Wales University – Providence.

However, just being a student at JWU isn’t enough – pretty soon, you will start to get comfortable, and while that might be great for the short term, in the long run, you will most likely regret getting too comfortable. So, what should you do?

Take risks.

As a freshman in The School of Hospitality, during my seventh week at the University, I decided to attend the Fall Career Fair. I had just polished up my incredibly small resume, and I was nervous, as I was about to encounter over 100+ recruiters from large corporations.

I remember the date like it was yesterday – it was October 24^th, 2013. I spent the entire four hours at the Career Fair like a kid in the candy store – I didn’t know what I was doing, but I sure as heck had a good time.

It was captivating.  Seeing companies that I have only could dreamed of working for in person, made the dreamer inside of me come alive. I was in awe.

I handed out my resume to almost every Hotel Company that was in attendance; however, I received rejection – for the most part.

One November afternoon, I received a call from a 212 area code – yes, that’s right – New York City. It happened to be Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. The recruiter asked me to complete a phone interview – my first ever phone interview, by the way.

I completed the interview over the phone a few days later for Starwood’s Externship Program. I was only in my ninth week at the University at the time. I got accepted for the Externship Program and spent my Freshman Spring Break at The Westin New York at Times Square as a Housekeeping Extern – in an 873 room four-star hotel in the heart of Times Square.

The Westin New York at Times Square 

My dream came alive, and I was incredibly lucky to be living my dream – working in a hotel; working in my major - Hotel & Lodging Management – during my freshman year.

From there, my Starwood journey grew, and I have been lucky to travel around the country working in Starwood Hotels – such as the St. Regis San Francisco, and the W Atlanta – Midtown. I have also returned back to my ‘home’: The Westin New York at Times Square twice – once as a Finance Summer Intern, and last summer as a Revenue Management Intern. I have grew, both personally and professionally as a result.

The Westin New York at Times Square Summer 2015 Interns at Starwood Corporate

This wouldn’t have happened without taking risks and being a student at JWU Providence.

Take risks, explore, and get out of your comfort zone. President Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

If you’re a Hotel & Lodging Management student, you will learn about change in HOSP3005 – Leading Service Excellence in the Hospitality Industry.

So, if you’re thinking of taking a risk, do it: what’s the worst that can happen?

 

NSMH JWU-RI Chapter Wins Chapter of the Year

NSMH JWU-RI Chapter wins Chapter of the Year 

NSMH JWU-RI Chapter wins National Chapter of the Year 

Johnson & Wales University Providence’s student chapter of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality has earned Chapter of the Year; Largest Membership – Northeast and Best Membership Drive honors from its national parent organization. The group was honored at the society’s 27th Annual National Conference in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes the chapter that has excelled in its commitment to the society’s mission and vision. That includes completing multiple community service projects and creating professional development workshops for its members.

Member Claudio Beckford ‘17 was awarded a position on the National Board as the 2016-2017 Northeast Regional Chair.

The three-day conference attracted over 600 students from 80 chapters across the nation. The theme of this conference was “One Nation, One House: Diversity Matters.” The sixteen students from Johnson & Wales University Providence attended panel discussions and workshops that explored career development and trends in the hospitality industry. They also networked with hundreds of students and employers at the conference’s large career fair.

Chapter co-president, Brian Goodman states, “NSMH has allowed myself and countless other students to explore the hospitality in depth by celebrating diversity, and continuous learning, growing, personal and professional development. This conference proved that NSMH is without a doubt, an exceptional organization to be a part of — both on the chapter and national level.”

Johnson & Wales University Providence’s NSMH student chapter celebrates human and experiential diversity in all aspects of the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, casinos, and country clubs. For its members, it is a resource for career development, community service, and the exploration of industry trends. To learn more about NSMH, visit the Involvement Network, or email bgoodman@jwu.edu