POMONA, Calif.—Industry partners are making certain that Cal Poly Pomona’s hospitality management students are at the forefront of the profession by supporting a half-million dollar renovation at The Collins College of Hospitality Management.
The project included a total transformation of the dining room of The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch (RKR) and the upgrade of the college’s demonstration kitchen, allowing future hospitality leaders to access professional-quality facilities and equipment.
“These renovations help keep us updated in times when technology is changing so quickly. As the future comes at light speed, the ability to work with new equipment places us in front of our competition,” says hospitality management student Melissa Huang.
The renovations at the RKR were provided primarily by The Gettys Group, an international hotel architect firm, and R.D. Olson Development, a general contractor and construction management firm, specializing in hospitality, retail, and office building.
The Don and Lorraine Freeberg Foundation, a longtime supporter of the college, generously funded the $240,000 demonstration auditorium project, which was executed by Cal Poly Pomona’s Facilities Planning and Management Department. The foundation also provided the new flooring throughout the RKR.
Hospitality management student Rachel Watts adds, “Having state-of-the-art classrooms prepares us for professional jobs as we enter the industry after graduation. It means so much to know that our donors are really invested in our futures.”
