Students enrolled in Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management (SHM) witnessed first-hand the operations of a major hospitality corporation, Hilton Worldwide, as part of an engaged scholarship opportunity.
Twenty-five students attended the educational trip Oct. 30 and 31 at Hilton Worldwide headquarters in McLean, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, DC, including students who are enrolled in Hospitality Real Estate (HM 482) as well as students in the Global Hospitality Management program, student officers of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and students selected to interview for the Hilton Management Development Program.
“This trip was one of the best opportunities I've received through the School of Hospitality Management,” said student Kristina Trainer. “It showed that the school supports not only the education that we need in order to successfully enter into the workforce, but the education that will be applicable as we advance as hospitality professionals. The exposure we received through the exclusive sessions with various Hilton executives will prove to be invaluable as we move forward as they were able to give us a more in-depth view of different perspectives of multiple stake holders in the hospitality industry.”
Students toured the Hilton Worldwide headquarters and Hilton McLean Tysons Corner hotel, the company’s flagship property. Hilton executives also led sessions at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner that included presentations with open discussions.
Students had the opportunity to interact with Mark Morrison, vice president of corporate strategy; Gregg Rockett, vice president for managed development of North America; John Boettger, senior vice president for asset management of the Americas; Bill Fortier, senior vice president of development for the Americas; Jasmyn Franklin, college recruitment coordinator; Jim Bartoletta, senior director of talent management; Michael Pajak, senior manager of feasibility and investment analysis; and Brian Kelleher, general manager of Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.
Franklin, Bartoletta and Pajak are all alumni of Penn State’s Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management Program, which is now known as SHM.
“Overall, I learned more about Hilton as a company and the way in which their company is structured,” Trainer said. “I was able to apply background knowledge from our classes, specifically the accounting, finance, asset management and real estate classes, in order to follow along with their presentations and ask specific and educated questions. It's important to realize that with this trip we weren't just given an opportunity to learn from very successful people in the industry; it's more important to realize that we were well prepared to do so.”
John O'Neill, director of SHM, said the trip was not only a learning opportunity for students, but it also created a chance for students to become more enthusiastic about the exciting career opportunities available to them.
“We wanted our students to learn about potential career opportunities at hospitality corporate headquarters, but it's difficult to effectively present such information in the classroom,” O’Neill said.
The trip was made possible through funding from the Conti Professorship established by Penn State alumni and friends of Walter Conti, Class of 1952, and the support of Hilton Senior Vice President and Conti Professor Bill Fortier.
“Students had the opportunity to learn first-hand about real estate, franchising, branding, asset management and strategic management by meeting with corporate executives, touring corporate facilities and completing case studies,” O’Neill said. “We also had the opportunity to stay at and tour's Hilton's flagship hotel adjacent to its worldwide headquarters where we had the chance to learn about and see many of the latest innovations Hilton managers are considering rolling out throughout the chain.”