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Statler News

GUEST SPEAKERS

March 4, 2025
Jimi Yui B.S. ’79
Founder
Yui Design
HADM 4530/6530 | Lilly Jan | Foodservice Facilities Design

March 4, 2025
Catalina Valbuena
Director of People and Culture
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
HADM 2170 | Lilly Jan | Hotel Leadership Development Program (HLDP)

March 5, 2025
Madison Austrich ’19
Manager, Transactions, Strategy and Portfolio Growth
Hyatt
HADM 1210 | Mary MacAusland | Financial Accounting

March 4, 2025
Taneka Coates
Director of Customer and Member Analytics
Marriott
HADM 1361 | Dave Roberts | Introduction to Hotel Operations

CENTERS & INSTITUTES

Check the Events Calendar for upcoming engagement opportunities!

CENTER FOR HOSPITALITY RESEARCH

Please stay connected with us! Follow the Center for Hospitality Research on LinkedIn

Spring Advisory Board Meeting
April 24, 2025
Ithaca, NY
By Invitation Only

Data Analytics Reception & Roundtable
May 19 & 20, 2025
Washington, D.C.
By Invitation Only
Join the Conversation at the 2025 Data Analytics Roundtable!
An annual event, this roundtable will take place on May 20 in Washington, D.C., with a special reception the evening before. This unique forum brings together leaders in hospitality analytics to explore how data is shaping the industry’s future.
This year’s topics include:

  • AI & guest experience
  • Rising costs outpacing RevPAR growth
  • Revenue management & pricing
  • Identifying the true drivers of performance

Faculty interested in attending should request an invitation by emailing the Center for Hospitality Research.

Thanks to the Stanley Sun Faculty Global Research Fund, the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) is offering grants in support of faculty in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration and across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business who are researching topics of interest and importance to the hospitality, travel, and service industries. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and proposals can be submitted here: hosp_research@cornell.edu

QUESTIONS about CHR?
Faculty members and students interested in attending CHR events should email Shana Claar, Center Coordinator at skc223@cornell.edu.

CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE HOSPITALITY LABOR & EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS

13th Annual Labor Relations Roundtable
March 27-28, 2025
The Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood FL
The Cornell Center for Innovative Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations will host the 13th Annual Labor Relations Roundtable at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL. This event will bring together union and hospitality leaders as they tackle current labor and employment issues, navigate the changes in labor laws and hiring practices, and shape industry practices.

Labor & Employment Roundtable for Club HR Directors
Monday, March 31, 2025 | 9 AM – 1 PM
Boynton Beach, FL
By Invitation Only. Contact nco9@cornell.edu with any questions
A variety of discussion topics will be explored, including:

  • What to Expect from the New Administration
  • Union Organizing – Are Country Clubs Next?
  • Immigration, Visas, and Ways to Staff Your Club

19th Annual HR in Hospitality Conference
May 13-15, 2025
Coronado, CA
We are pleased to announce that the National HR in Hospitality Conference will be held at the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California!
The National HR in Hospitality Conference is the industry’s premier HR conference, bringing together the legal and practical aspects of human resources within the hospitality industry.

QUESTIONS about CIHLER?
Please email Natalie Oldfield, CIHLER Program Manager at nco9@cornell.edu.

CENTER FOR REAL ESTATE AND FINANCE

CREF is excited for the return of the Real Estate Professionals in Residence program!
This program will bring real estate and finance industry experts onto campus for one-on-one meetings with students. Schedule your meeting now!

March 12 & 13
David Hirschberg, Co-Head, H.I.G. Reality Partners

March 19 & 20 (Virtual)
Rob Kline ’84, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, The Chartres Lodging Group

  • Hospitality Real Estate Investment
  • Hospitality Asset Management
  • Self-proprietorship
  • Meet with Rob

Every Wednesday, 1-3 pm (Virtual)
Rebecca Green, Founder, Kaleidoscope Projects

  • Hospitality & Commercial Real Estate Development
  • Sales Strategy & Demand Generation
  • Revenue Forecasting & Management
  • Partner Selection & Negotiation
  • Cross-Functional Engagement & Team Leadership
  • Meet with Rebecca

QUESTIONS about CREF?
Please email cref@sha.cornell.edu

PILLSBURY INSTITUTE FOR HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Pillsbury Institute continues its Entrepreneurs in Residence program in person on Cornell’s Ithaca Campus! Be sure to come to your meetings prepared to discuss anything from business development to career planning. You can schedule one–on–one, in-person meetings using your StartupTree account now! Availability will be shared on a continuously updated basis.

March 4
Ellen Yui, P ’14, ’16, Founding Principal, YUI+Company

  • Communications and branding
  • Marketing
  • Investor relations
  • Pitch coach
  • Meet with Ellen

March 11
Dan Leyva ’14, Founder & CEO, Taco Azul

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Development
  • Concept development
  • Branding
  • Startups
  • Restaurants
  • Meet with Dan

Women and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Roundtable
March 4–5, 2025
Ithaca, NY
By Invitation Only
Christina McDowell, Senior Lecturer and Academic Director of the Pillsbury Institute, will moderate and chair our discussion.
A variety of discussion topics will be explored, including:

  • Telling Your Hospitality Entrepreneurship Story: From Startup to Growth
  • Navigating Industry and Societal Barriers: Experiences of Women Hospitality Entrepreneurs
  • Reaching Audiences: Communication Strategies for Women in Hospitality Entrepreneurship
  • Building Networks and Mentorships: Support and Direction for Women in Hospitality Entrepreneurship

Observer seats are available to students and faculty. If you would like to observe any of the four sessions, please fill out the following Registration Survey by Tuesday, March 4. Space is limited.

Session descriptions can be found on the AGENDA, and a full list of participants can be found HERE.

PIHE presents: Meet & Repeat: A Hospitality Entrepreneurship Speed Networking Event

Want to learn how to maximize networking opportunities for your entrepreneurial journey in 5,400 seconds? Come to the Meet & Repeat at the PIHE!

At the Meet & Repeat, you will have the opportunity to practice your pitching skills by presenting an “elevator pitch” about yourself or a business idea you have while building and expanding your professional network. 

Don’t miss this great opportunity to expand your network by meeting 13 hospitality industry leaders and entrepreneurs from across the globe!

REGISTER HERE | Tuesday March 4, 2025 | 4:30PM – 6:00PM | 291 Statler Hall

Hospitality Industry Participants:

Seats are limited and an RSVP is required.

The event is BYOBC (bring your own business card – print or virtual). Dress code is business casual. After the networking event, student attendees are invited to join the hospitality industry professionals at a Networking Reception in Statler Hall.

Coffee Chat with Dan Leyva ’14: Navigating Your Career & Entrepreneurship 
March 11 | 9am-10am | 189 Statler Hall
Register Here by March 5th
Join us for a coffee chat with industry alum Dan Leyva! A 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Food & Drink, Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Taco Azul in Boston. With a decade of experience scaling hospitality brands like Wings Over, 7th Street Burger, Tacombi, and more, he brings valuable insights into growth, innovation, and leadership in the food industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and get inspired!
Light refreshments will be provided.

Stay connected with PIHE by subscribing to our newsletter!

QUESTIONS about PIHE?
Please email Michelle Mahool, PIHE Program Manager, at MLC296@cornell.edu.

REMINDERS

Faculty Regalia: Pre-order regalia on-line by April 16.
https://commencement.cornell.edu/may/faculty/
Pickup: May 20-25, Teagle Hall.
All Cornell University faculty are welcome to participate in Commencement events during the weekend on the Ithaca Campus. Faculty may wear their own regalia or borrow at no cost, for the entire weekend.

NESTLÉ LIBRARY RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Social Explorer
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