[ad_1]
At the AAHAA’s inaugural Hospitality Collegiate Championships, which debuted at AAHOACON24, Grand Valley State received the People’s Choice Award and Oklahoma State received the Judges’ Championship Trophy.
This industry-first competition format challenges college students across the country to compete and make the operational and investment decisions that all hotel owners must make to turn things around when they are lagging. This competition is part of AAHOA’s commitment to supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders.
“It can be a little intimidating because we come from an academic environment and we only deal with professors,” Kennesaw State University student Grant Gordon said of the experience of working with the nation’s leading hotel owners. Come talk to hoteliers, some of which are quite large, which can be a little intimidating at first. But they are all very hospitable. We are in the hospitality industry. “
Eleven teams, each consisting of two students, from seven universities across the country came together to compete for the championship at AAHOACON24. Nearly two dozen student contestants were required to use HOTELsim, a unique simulation program powered by Russell Partnership Technology that allowed them to make decisions that reflected real-life challenges faced by all AAHOA members. These include staffing, operations, marketing and capital investment decisions. Each student team “acquired” a hotel with the same financial profile, performing well in the same market, and with the same key performance indicators. The team uses HOTELsim to implement ownership strategies to increase hotel valuations and future profit potential.
Participating schools are:
1. Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Florida International University, Miami, FL
2. Grand Valley State University, Allendale Charter Township, MI
3. Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
4. Northwest Louisiana State University, Natchitoches, LA
5. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
6. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
7. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Based on financial and balanced scorecard operational results, four teams — Grand Valley State, Kennesaw State, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech — advanced to the finals, where student teams pitched their mock hotels as “ Shark Tank” investment or purchasing opportunity display. Style” panel is comprised of industry brokerage, acquisition and investment leaders.
“We are pleased to honor the highly skilled and innovative winners of the AAHOA’s inaugural Collegiate Championship: Hotel Turnaround Competition,” said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA President and CEO. “This groundbreaking event showcases outstanding hospitality representatives. Management Project Students Solved in
The Real Challenges of Hotel Ownership. Witnessing their teamwork and problem-solving abilities is truly inspiring. AAHOA is proud to lead the industry in providing unique opportunities to elevate and celebrate the next generation of hospitality leaders, and we are grateful to everyone involved in making this vision a reality. “
“Where was the challenge when I entered the industry?” asked former AAHOA President Bharat Patel. “As a second-generation hotelier who began a career in the hospitality industry at a young age, I would love to participate in a program of this type. The College Championship presented by AAHOA: Hotel Turnaround Competition is just another example of how AAHOA values young professionals in the industry and Future leaders for their contributions. AAHOA sincerely congratulates Grand Valley State University and Oklahoma State University for winning top awards and participating in AAHOACON24.”
AAHOA has received requests from colleges to participate in the AAHOACON25 College Championship. For more information on how to participate, please email educationpt@aahoa.com.
[ad_2]
Source link