Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures Associate Director Heather Kolakowski is the faculty advisor for the 94th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell. The students behind this annual event invite the community to join in the free educational programming and panels in the Statler Auditorium, March 15-16. HEC is one of the oldest traditions at Cornell and an unparalleled introduction to the students, faculty, and alumni of the preeminent hospitality program in the nation. This year’s conference theme is “Finding Synergy.” This year, HEC will examine the ways that hospitality infuses itself into other industries and breaks the boundaries of what is considered “traditional”. The program will highlight unexpected mergers, uncommon combinations, and the synergy between service and the rest of the world. It will also explore how the hospitality industry is doing more for its guests, society, and the environment outside of conventional expectations. Program highlights include:
Friday, March 15: A full day of educational panels and presentations focusing beyond the lines of traditional hospitality. Seminar topics include Lodging Brand Value Creation; Using Emerging Technologies to Empower Hospitality; From the Front Desk to the Front Line: How Hospitality Leads to Healthcare Innovation; and the keynote address from Valerie Wilson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Valerie Wilson Travel. Various leisure events are also planned.
Saturday, March 16: A range of educational and leisure programs, including a presentations on Investing in a Hospitality Culture; Lessons Learned from 20 years in Sustainable & Eco-Tourism; Private Rentals: From Adversary to Ally; Changing Expectations: Emerging Trends & Applications in Hospitality; Fine Dining to Food as Medicine and the Cornell Hospitality Business Plan Competition, where three team finalists present and defend their business plans to a panel of esteemed industry judges.
Check out the full weekend schedule at www.cornellhec.com.