CHS Nevada Hosts “Needs and Leads” Happy Hour

/in /by

On Thursday, August 17, 2017, the Cornell Hotel Society Nevada Chapter hosted a business networking event for 20 Cornellians in the Las Vegas area.  The event was held at the Public House in the Venetian Hotel.

The event was entitled “Needs and Leads” and allowed Hotelies to help, and seek help, for different challenges and opportunities they face. Helpful “Leads” may include open positions you know about, or a lead on getting a problem solved.  The “Needs” section allows you to ask for help – advice, information, or otherwise from your fellow Hotelies.

The event was organized by Alex Koch, ’04.

CHS Nevada – Needs and Leads – Needs Template

CHS Nevada – Needs and Leads – Leads Template

 

Third Annual Dubai Lodging Outlook 2018 Seminar

/in /by

On September 10, 2017, Cornell Hotel Society, MENA Chapter, hosted the 3rd Annual Dubai Lodging Outlook 2018 Seminar at Fairmont The Palm, Dubai.  The morning seminar started off with a macroeconomic overview and forecast presentation by Mohamed Abu Basha, Director, Head of Macroeconomic Analysis, at EFG Hermes, a prominent investment bank in the region.  Abu Basha’s presentation was followed by a presentation by Sarah Duignan, Director of Client Relationships at STR.  Sarah highlighted the region’s key lodging trends in addition to STR’s forecast of key metrics for Dubai.  The seminar was concluded with a panel discussion titled “The Impact of New Supply on Revenue Management Practices”, which was moderated by  Tarek M. Daouk ’01, Founder and Managing Partner at Smartotels Hospitality International.  The panelists included: Sarah Allen, Vice President, Revenue Management, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International; Ali Manzoor, Associate Partner, Hospitality & Leisure Development Consultancy, Knight Frank Middle East; Andrew Boocock, Area Sourcing Manager, GCC & Levant, GTA Travel; Judith Cartwright, Senior Vice President Global Revenue Management & Distribution, Kerzner International; and, Philip Wooller, Area Director Middle East & Africa, STR.  Attendance at the event increased by 14% y-o-y, totaling 150 attendees.  Chapter co-President, Aditya Rajaram MMH ’11 led the planning the of the event, supported by co-President Tarek M. Daouk ’01 and a team at STR.  The event was sponsored by Fairmont The Palm and PSAV.

The event raised around $2,900 USD which will be donated to the EMEA scholarship fund program.  Adi and Tarek would like to thank everyone who helped support the event.  The chapter looks forward to hosting this event in future years.

Third Annual Dubai Lodging Outlook 2018 at the Fairmont The Palm.

Sarah Duignan From STR Provides A Market Update

Revenue Management Panel Discussion

Audience – Dubai Lodging Outlook

CHS Korea Chapter Tours Paradise City

/in /by

On Sunday, September 24, 2017, the CHS Korea chapter toured the Paradise City Hotel & Resort, one of the hottest hotels in the country at the moment.  The tour was followed by a gorgeous champagne lunch.  Thanks to Stephanie Choi ’10 for hosting the event.

CHS Korea tours Paradise City Hotel & Resort.

Paradise City Hotel & Resort

Paradise City Hotel & Resort

Paradise City Hotel & Resort

Paradise City Hotel & Resort

Atlanta Lodging Outlook 2018

/in /by

A crowd of 340 area hotel industry professionals attended the 19th annual seminar.  This year’s event was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead.  Our host was Brian Ettelman ’87, Director of Catering.

Atlanta Lodging Outlook is organized by the CHS Georgia Chapter with promotional assistance from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association. The seminar is designed to provide hotel owners and operators with the information they need to prepare their marketing plans and budgets for the upcoming year.

CHS Georgia chapter Vice President Sachin Desai ‘14 opened the proceedings, followed by Jim Sprouse, President of the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association.

During the first half of the seminar, Kirk Kinsell ’80 moderated a discussion on current sales and marketing issues. The panelists included Brian Berry ’91, SVP of Revenue Management for Host Hotels and Resorts, Apo Demirtas, Ph.D., CEO of Intelligent Hospitality, Natalie Osborn, Director of Marketing for SAS Hospitality and Gaming, and Kathy Hood, VP of Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management for Davidson Hotels and Resorts.  Special thanks to Bob Gilbert ’82, President and CEO of Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International for helping put the panel together.

Following the sales and marketing discussion, a panel of local area experts presented their outlook for 2018:

  • Roger Tutterow Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University
  • Mark Vaughan, EVP and Chief Sales Officer for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Mark Woodworth ’77, Senior Managing Director of CBRE Hotels’ Americas Research

Proceeds from the event help support the Georgia chapter’s scholarship fund.

Atlanta Lodging Outlook 2018

CHS Georgia Chapter Planning Committee

Networking Breakfast

Sales and Marketing Panel

Atlanta Outlook Presenters

Hotel School and CHS Honor Tourism Minister Dionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

/in /by

On Friday, July 28, 2017, the Hotel School and Southern Florida Chapter honored Dionisio James D’Aguilar, the Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas. Minister D’Aguilar received a BS degree from the Hotel School in 1986, and his MBA from the Johnson School in 1987.  The reception was held in the presidential suite of the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay in conjunction with the National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers conference.

SHA and CHS Honor Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

Hotelies Gather to Honor Bahamas Tourism MinisterDionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

Hotelies Gather to Honor Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

Hotelies Gather to Honor Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

Hotelies Gather to Honor Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

Hotelies Gather to Honor Bahamas Tourism Minister Dionisio James D’Aguilar ‘86

New York Hotelies Excel At Excel

/in /by

On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, the New York City chapter hosted a Microsoft Excel Workshop & Happy Hour event at a We Works in Manhattan. The seminar was led by Hotel School professor Mark McCarthy ’86.  Following a brush-up on the skills learned during freshman Business Computing, the group gathered to network and enjoy some light bites and beverages.

CHS NYC – Excel Workshop and Happy Hour

WeWorks – Site of the Excel Workshop and Happy Hour

Hotelies get a refresher in Excel

Drink and light bites after a hard session on Excel.

Cornellians Celebrate Happy Hour In Nashville

/in /by

On Thursday night, August 10, approximately 40 Cornellians watched the sunset at L27, the hot new bar on the rooftop of the Westin Nashville Hotel.  The group consisted of Hotelies attending the STR Hotel Data Conference in town, along with local alumni.  Thanks to Jan Freitag – Hotel ’97 for making the arrangements so we could meet at the Westin.

Mark Morrison ’96, Mark Woodworth ’77, Scott Roby ’99

Jan Freitag ’97, Sourav Ghosh, Simon Turner ’83

Sarah Spiewak Gulla ’95, Quinn O’Sullivan ’96, Jan Freitag ’97

Brenna Halliday ’03, Mike Marshall ’96. Brian Berry ’91

Will Woodworth – Johnson ’16, Kelly McGuire ’07

Sarah Robbins ’95, Mark Morrison ’96

Joyce Quirk ’82, Robert Mandelbaum ’81, Steve Pert ’81

Ali Hoyt ’12, Ryan McNamara ’10

NYC Chapter Happy Hour at 1Hotel Brooklyn

/in /by

On July 27th, CHS NYC Chapter organized a special tour and rooftop happy hour at the brand new 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. The hotel is a waterfront retreat, with expansive views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. It is designed by local artists using native greenery and reclaimed materials.

Manhattan skyline from the roof of the 1Hotel Brooklyn.

Hotelies gather at the new 1Hotel in Brooklyn.

Hotelies gather at the new 1Hotel in Brooklyn.

Room at the new 1Hotel in Brooklyn.

 

Georgia Chapter Pizza Party

/in /by

On Tuesday, August 10, the Georgia chapter gathered at the Mellow Mushroom Brookhaven restaurant to host new and current students from The Hotel School.  Our special guest of honor was incoming freshman Tyler Sturdivant, ’21.  On hand to provide their guidance and insights were three current Hotelies, each of whom had internships in Atlanta during the summer.  They were Mark Svenjak ’18, Nina Bachich ’19, and Sharonee Vaca ’19.  The Georgia Chapter wishes all students from the Peach State great success during the 2017 / 2018 school year.

Incoming Freshman Tyler Sturdivant, ’21 (second from left) receives advice from Nina Bachich ’19, Sharonee Vaca ’19, and Mark Svenjak ’18.

CHS Georgia Chapter New Student Pizza Party

CHS Georgia Chapter welcomes new and current Hotel School students.

CHS France Hosts Michael Nowlis

/in /by

On Monday, July 17, 2017 the CHS France chapter hosted Michael Nowlis, the Associate Dean for Executive MBA programs at the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management. The event was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Paris.

Michael previously worked for Cornell as Lecturer and Director of the Institut de Management Hôtelier International (IMHI) program in Paris.  Therefore, alumni from IMHI were invited to join the Hotelies that graduated from programs in Ithaca.  A total of nine people attended the event organized by CHS France chapter President Monika Moser, PDP ’99 and IMHI ’10.

CHS France Hosts Michael Nowlis

CHS France enjoys reception for Michael Nowlis at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris.

CHS France enjoys reception for Michael Nowlis at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris.