Ready for Service

What started during the days of Prohibition, before there was even a Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, has now become a traditional event that is highly anticipated by the school’s alumni and industry professionals around the country. The Hotel Ezra Cornell was held for the 86th year, and this edition of the student-run hotel conference featured discussions on the biggest topics of the day from some of the most prominent names in the hospitality industry.
The stars of the conference were the numerous hospitality students who worked tirelessly to organize and manage the event. “Our first goal is to showcase the students and what they’ve learned,” says Alix Morris, a senior who serves as communication director for the conference. “The experience is real-world.”

The Hotel Ezra Cornell is a student-run organization. Each year, the organization chooses a managing director—this year it was Willis Cheng—and hospitality students earn positions on the board of directors and other positions within the organization. Once the board of directors is in place, students apply for management positions in the fall semester.

During the six-credit course, they use their skills and education to organize the conference, which is annually attended by nearly 300 guests. The program also utilizes approximately 300 to 400 student volunteers each year, from both inside and outside the School of Hotel Administration.

The program is designed as a way for students to gain an experiential education in hospitality. “There’s a lot to be said for theory, but you can build upon theory with practice,” Morris says.

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Meanwhile, students in the program get the chance to learn valuable lessons about themselves, and to practice their craft in the real world. “One of the most valuable lessons has been interpersonal, working on your management style,” says Annie Marlow, a senior who serves as rooms director. “You have the opportunity to figure out what works for you.”

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