Past HEC Programs
Every year, the students behind Hotel Ezra Cornell develop a cohesive theme for the conference and organize a set of educational programming that highlights the issues emerging from that theme. Each program features some of hospitality’s most respected leaders engaging in thought-provoking discussion and enlightening conversation about the state of the industry. See some of the past themes below:
Program Themes By Year
HEC 96
“Together”
HEC 95
“Dare to Do: Impacting Society Through Hospitality”
HEC 94
“Finding Synergy”
HEC 93
“Sense of Place”
HEC 92
“face the future, preserve the past”
HEC 91
“the new normal. same game, new rules”
HEC 90
“…and the rest is history!”
HEC 89
“Food for Thought”
HEC 88
“The 88th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell”
HEC 87
“Life is Service Innovation”
HEC 86
“Global Hospitality: The Core of International Business”
HEC 85
“Managing Through and Thinking Forward: Opportunities for Innovation in the Down Economy”
HEC 84
“Illuminating the Possibilities: Learning from Las Vegas”
HEC 83
“A Weekend of Hospitality, Education, and Collaboration”
HEC 82
“Sustainability Through Innovation”
Previous Program Highlights
Same game, new rules
Although hospitality industry fundamentals are stronger than ever, unprecedented change is coming. This year’s conference will touch on several issues that are giving rise to this powerful phenomenon:
- Millennials are exerting their influence and redefining industry norms.
- Hospitality companies are forming or transforming to answer the call of the evolving consumer, who is approaching travel in a whole new way.
- Ultraluxury hotels are growing as this new dimension in fine service gains traction.
- Social media has great influence over consumer decisions, and businesses need to leverage this tool in their favor.
- Cyber crime is rampant, and the industry must protect itself from this “face-less” danger.
- With the emergence of new third-party intermediaries that help hotels find customers, the industry is searching for new ways to analyze distribution that will positively impact the bottom line.
- While the U.S. lodging industry is experiencing tremendous RevPAR growth and all-time high occupancy rates, investors around the world face challenges that are changing the investment landscape for hotel real estate.
- With millennials dominating the workforce, organizational diversity looks increasingly different from years past.
- Establishments adopting a few revolutionizing trends in the food and beverage industry are rising to the top and leaving others struggling at the bottom.
HEC 91 Board of Directors
- Taylor Meadows ’16
Managing director
- Jazmin Black ’18
Director of diversity and inclusion
- Jenna Cantor ’16
Director of learning and development
- Rebekah Catalana ’16
Beverage director
- Madeleine Fessenden ’16
Program director
- Gabriella Forss ’16
Human resources director
- Dajana Gjoza ’16
Design director
- Jake A. Hauss ’16
Director of food and beverage
- Warner Hazell ’17
Rooms director
- Mara Jaffe ’17
Executive chef
- Will Kinney ’16
Service director
- Justin Meselsohn ’16
Director of marketing
- Emily Moore ’16
Procurement director
- Benjamin Pilosof ’16
Communications director
- Patrick (PJ) Schepis ’16
Director of finance and donor relations
- Gundeep Singh ’17
Director of technology
The Program
Starbucks Reserve Coffee Tasting
Hosted by Starbucks Coffee Company
Presenters: Anthony Viccari, MMH ’09, business development manager – branded solutions (Jacksonville & North Florida), Starbucks; Mark Uhlemann, business development manager – fine dining, Starbucks; Jenessa Broderick, business development manager (Eastern Pennsylvania and Central New York), Starbucks; Joseph Doheny, regional operations specialist, Starbucks
The Dean’s Address
Speaker: Michael D. Johnson, the Bradley H. Stone Dean and E. M. Statler Professor, School of Hotel Administration
Cornell College of Business: An Update and Q&A with the Provost
Speaker: Michael Kotlikoff, provost, Cornell University
Keeping Up with the New Consumer
Moderator: Kelly McGuire, MMH ’01, PhD ’07, vice president of advanced analytics, Wyndham Destination Networks
Speakers: Wrede Petersmeyer, NYC city manager, Airbnb; Francis Davidson, CEO and co-founder, Flatbook; Kit Pappas, executive vice president and COO, Capella Hotel Group; Hari Nair, MMH ’02, vice president and general manager of Orbitz and CheapTickets, Expedia; Kevin Jacobs ’94, executive vice president and CFO, Hilton Worldwide
The Evolution of Diversity
Speakers: Lucida Plummer, vice president of diversity and inclusion, Wyndham Worldwide; Victor Younger,
director of diversity and inclusion, School of Hotel Administration
Demystifying the Digital Marketplace
Speaker: Cindy Estis Green ’79, CEO and co-founder, Kalibri Labs
the new normal. of Luxury
Speaker: Horst Schulze, chairman and CEO, Capella Hotel Group and former president and COO, the Ritz-Carlton Group
Growth in the Face of Volatility: Preparing for Disruption in Hotel Real Estate
Moderator: Arthur Adler ’78, managing director and CEO-Americas, JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group
Speakers: Stephen G. Haggerty ’90, executive vice president and global head of real estate and capital strategy, Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Tracey Gamble ’99, principal, Apollo Global Management; Michael Goodson,
head of global hospitality, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
The Hospitality #DATA Explosion
Speaker: Marty Weintraub, founder and evangelist, aimClear Marketing Agency
Bringing the Guest’s Social Experience to the Big Screen (…or to the Small One)
Speakers: Tim Sae Koo, CEO, TINT; Quinn Cox ’15, business development executive, TINT
Trends in Food & Beverage: 2016 Edition
Moderator: Damian Mogavero, CEO and founder, Avero
Speakers: Drew Nieporent ’77, owner, Myriad Restaurant Group; Jeannette Ho (via videoconference),
vice president of revenue management and customer analytics, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International; Jeff Zalaznick ’05, managing partner, Major Food Group; Abby Murtagh ’92, resident manager, Waldorf Astoria New York
Cybersecurity and Beyond: How to Take on the Virtual Enemy
Moderator: Jules Sieburgh ’72, principal, Jules A. Sieburgh LLC
Speakers: Dave Hogan, vice president of merchant solutions, Heartland Payment Systems; Alexander Stout, associate, Latham & Watkins LLP; Amitava “Chats” Chatterjee, MMH ’00, director of travel, hospitality and leisure, Deloitte Digital
#BayClubHappy: Developing a Formal Internship Program
Speaker: Victor Woo, executive vice president, the Bay Club Company
A 360° Look at the Hospitality Data Universe: A Hands-On Session
Presenter: Marty Weintraub, founder and evangelist, aimClear Marketing Agency
Hotelies Thinking Big: Entrepreneurial Student Showcase
Participants: Maidbot, Dos Amigos Tacos, Yorango, Cayuga Crunch, and MilesAhead
Coinciding with Cornell University’s sesquicentennial celebration, HEC entered its ninth decade with a commemoration of ninety years of past programs and changing styles. Bringing together four current and former deans of the School of Hotel Administration, the conference also included food and beverage events that tracked the progression of the hospitality industry over time–the F&B team lived up to its mission of celebrating the past while also toasting to the future.
HEC 90 Board of Directors
- Tess Williams ’16
Managing director
- Katie Chan ’15
Information technology director
- Clarice Costa ’15
Operations director
- Tarina De Rito ’15
Human resources director
- Anya Gayvoronskaya ’15
Procurement director
- Elizabeth Huston ’15
Food and beverage director
- Taylor Meadows ’16
Program director
- Justin Meselsohn ’16
Food and beverage service director
- Sandy Park ’15
Rooms director
- Alyssa Pizzurro ’15
Beverage director
- Alexis Sicklick ’15
Executive chef
- Patrick Tan ’16
Sales director
- Kelcey Wolff ’15
Design director
- Kira West ’15
Marketing and communications director
The Program
Dean’s Welcome
Speaker: Dean Michael D. Johnson, School of Hotel Administration
Cornell Goes Global
Speaker: Glenn Altschuler, Cornell University
Deans’ Panel
Moderator: Ted Teng ’79, The Leading Hotels of the World
Speakers: Michael D. Johnson, David W. Butler, David Dittman, John Clark
3-D Printing Demonstration
Presenter: Jeff Lipton, Cornell Creative Machines Lab
Big Data: Everything You Always Wanted to Know
Speaker: Juan Miguel Lavista, Microsoft Data Science Team
Wines of Spain
Speaker: Steve Olson, a.k.a. “wine geek”
Disrupting the Industry
Moderator: Bill Carroll, Cornell University
Speakers: Rujul Zaparde, Flight Car; Greg Pesik ’86, MBA ’89, Passkey
How Social Media is Transforming B2B Sales
Moderator: Kelly McGuire, MMH ’01, PhD ’07, SAS
Speaker: Natalie Egan ’02, PeopleLinx
Real Estate Development in Cuba: Risks, Challenges, Upside
Moderator: Art Adler ’78, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels
LinkedIn Training: How to Use Social to Drive B2B Sales
Presenter: Thomas Brunner, PeopleLinx
Jamon Iberico Demonstration (Iberico Ham)
Sponsored by Foods and Wines from Spain
Olive Oil Tasting
Sponsored by Foods and Wines from Spain
With HEC 89, it was time to start thinking about what we eat, how we prepare it, where it comes from, and what effect food has on our bodies.
Did you know…
- Approx. 36% of American adults are considered obese, and experts project that number will rise to 42% by 2030?
- Nearly 70% of the calories consumed come from highly processed foods?
- Roughly one out of every five meals per person is eaten in a restaurant setting?
The 89th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell advocated for change, and the program highlighted the importance of healthful eating by engaging speakers from a variety of different fields. Discussions covered the role of the hospitality industry industry in producing, sourcing, and preparing healthful food for customers, and investigated policy initiatives enacted by the United States government.
HEC 89 Board of Directors
- Matt Bernard ’14
Managing director
- Alec Sherman ’14
Finance and purchasing director
- Ashleigh Evans ’14
Food and beverage director
- Chloe Arthur ’14
Training director
- Darby Verdoorn ’14
Executive chef
- Hannah Shin ’14
Conference services director
- Jonathan Loke ’14
Beverage director
- Kelsie Taylor ’14
Program director
- Krista Schweikle ’14
Student experience director
- Martha Geherin ’15
Food and beverage service director
- Mika Choi ’14
Marketing director
- Nikol Limaduran ’14
Design Director
- Sehaj Singh ’14
Guest experience director
- Stacy Delapenha ’14
Sales director
- Tess Williams ’15
IT and communications director
The Program
Someone’s in the Kitchen: Tastes, Trends, Politics, and the Evolving Role of Chefs in America
Speaker: Mitchell Davis, executive vice president, James Beard Foundation
Trends in Healthy Food Services
Speaker: Joan Rector McGlockton, vice president for food policy and industry relations, National Restaurant Association
Fresh Food, Fast
Moderator: Alex M. Susskind, associate professor, Cornell University
Speakers: Brad Nelson, vice president, culinary and global corporate chef, Marriott International; Chuck Conine ’73, vice president of human resources, LYFE Kitchen; Daryl Ansel ’99, director of food services, UCLA
Federal Agencies in Action
Moderator: Reed S. Woodworth ’84, vice president, PKF Consulting
Speakers: Charles Milam, principal director for military community and family policy, Department of Defense; Jonathan Jarvis, director, National Park Service; Ursula E. Bauer, director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Making the Business of Serving Healthful and Sustainable Food Good for Business
Speaker: Lawrence Williams, CEO, U.S. Healthful Food Council
Slim by Design
Speaker: Brian Wansink, professor/researcher, Cornell University
Purchasing from Small Scale Farmers on a Large Scale…
Speaker: Maisie Ganzler, vice president of strategy, Bon Appetit Management Company
The Panic for Organic
Speaker: Joe Dobrow, author of Natural Prophets
Small Changes on the Food Label Can Make Big Differences
Speaker: Diana Monaco, public affairs specialist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Repositioning Food and Beverage in Hotels
Moderator: Stephani Robson, senior lecturer, Cornell University
Speakers: Abby Murtagh, executive director of food and beverage, The New York Palace; Victor Tiffany, senior vice president of hospitality, Seminole Gaming; Beth Scott, vice president of restaurant concepts, Hilton Worldwide
The ABCs of Healthy Eating
Speaker: Dan Kluger, executive chef, ABC Kitchen and ABC Cocina
What’s the Problem: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Healthy Eating in America
Speaker: Jennifer Cabe, executive director and board member, Canyon Ranch Institute
HEC 88 put renewed focus on the cornerstone of the program—experiential hospitality leadership—as opposed to a specific theme, with the goal of extending HEC from just a weekend conference to a yearlong experience engaging the entire SHA student body. In addition to the conference itself, HEC organized additional events throughout the year, inaugurating the “Mocktail” reception for new Hotelies, which continues to this day.
HEC 88 Board of Directors
- Chad Wemischner ’13
Managing director
- Sam Eisenman ’13
Conference director
- Peter Biechler ’13
Food and beverage director
- Gorka Amian ’13
IT director
- Levi Austin ’14
Executive chef
- Matt Bernard ’14
Guest experience director
- Michael Jurgielewicz ’13
Program director
- Margalit Kohanim ’14
Design director
- Mackenzie Muller ’14
Human resources director
- Dana Ocher ’13
Food and beverage service director
- Matt Rubin ’13
Donor relations and finance director
- Aanchal Suri ’14
Communications director
- Kelsie Taylor ’14
Rooms director
- Matt Tong ’13
Beverage director
- Rachel Towne ’14
Marketing director
The Program
Dean’s Welcome
Speaker: Dean Michael D. Johnson, School of Hotel Administration
Ted’s Talk: Ted Teng ’79, The Leading Hotels of the World
Speaker: Ted Teng ’79, president and CEO, The Leading Hotels of the World
Women in Hospitality Leadership Panel
Speakers: Kate Walsh, MPS ’90, associate professor, (co-moderator); Susan Fleming, senior lecturer, (co-moderator); Cathy Enz, Lewis G. Schaeneman, Jr. Professor of Innovation and Dynamic Management (co-moderator); Lisa Holladay, vice president of brand and guest experience, Ritz-Carlton; Stacy Fischer Rosenthal, president, Fischer Travel Enterprise; Toni Knorr ’77, general manager, The St. Regis San Francisco
Land/Air/Sea: Where the Travel Industry is Going
Moderator: Sean Tolkin, MMH ’13
Speakers: Mark Joseph, CEO, Veolia Transportation; Brad Tolkin ’80, CEO, co-founder, World Travel Holdings; Frank Del Rio, CEO, chairman, Prestige Cruise Holdings; Suzanne Boda, senior vice president, Airport Customer Service, International and Cargo, US Airways
Nate Silver: Powerful Predictions
Speaker: Nate Silver, founder, FiveThirtyEight Blog and New York Times writer
The Dangerous Mess of Hospitality
Speaker: Brian Canlis, owner, Canlis Restaurant
The World of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Tasting Adventure
Speaker: Penelope Pankow MMH ’07, proprietor, F. Oliver’s Oils and Vinegars
Emerging Markets Development: Building Business Deals Abroad
Moderator: Jan deRoos ’78, executive director, Center for Real Estate and Finance and HVS Professor of Hotel Finance and Real Estate
Speakers: Jim Abrahamson, CEO, Interstate Hotels & Resorts; Neera Chanani ’02, South Asia head, Caesar’s India Development; Phillip Ho, vice president, Asia Pacific, The Leading Hotels of the World
Wine Tasting and Research Seminars 1 and 2
Speakers: Professors Ben Lawrence and Kathy LaTour, School of Hotel Administration
Locavore Farm Tour
Host: Nancy Taber Richards, owner, Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheeses
Craft Beer Tour and Tasting
Hosted by Ithaca Beer Company
With HEC 87 coinciding with the 90th anniversary of SHA, the board chose to bring the focus back to the roots of the school, as expressed in E. M. Statler’s famous quote: “Life is service. The one who progresses is the one who gives a little more, a little better service.”
During the conference, the food and beverage team completely overhauled their room service offerings (coincidentally, three months before a major NYC hotel did the same). Panels discussed how traditional notions of service and hospitality were being transformed, particularly by the then-emerging influence of social media.
HEC 87 Board of Directors
- Alison Hoyt ’12
Managing director
- Chad Wemischner ’13
Rooms director
- Sam Eisenman ’13
Guest services director
- Michael Jurgielewicz ’13
Procurement director
- Celia Erickson ’12
Food and beverage director
- Danielle Foster ’12
Communications director
- Kate Adie ’13
Procurement director
- Katie DeVantier ’12
Design director
- Katie Satinsky ’13
Human resources director
- Kelly Armstrong ’13
Food and beverage service director
- Kevin Dame ’13
Marketing director
- Lindsey Brous ’12
Program director
- Rebecca Stewart ’13
Business affairs director
The Program
Life is Service Innovation
Speaker: Ian Schrager, chairman and CEO, Ian Schrager Company
Disruptive Innovation in Hospitality and Travel
Speakers: Lee Pillsbury ’69, founder, co-chairman, CEO, Thayer Lodging Group; Art Norins, founder and chairman, Nor1; Chris Hemmeter ’86, managing partner, Quest Hospitality Ventures; Adam Goldstein, co-founder, Hipmunk; Janet Gerhard ’95, executive director, hospitality, newBrandAnalytics
Successes and Failures of Restaurant Innovation
Speaker: Chef Douglas Keane ’93, executive chef, owner, Cyrus Restaurant
Witness to the Wine Revolution
Speaker: Kevin Zraly, Windows on the World Wine School
Dean’s Address
Speaker: Dean Michael D. Johnson, School of Hotel Administration
Innovation in Hospitality Technology
Speakers: Kelly McGuire, MMH ’01, PhD ’07, executive director of hospitality and global practice, SAS; Joe Ziskin ’81, vice president of corporate strategy, IBM; Neil Schubert, vice president of information fesources, Marriott; Karen Bowman, principal, Deloitte Consulting
Mass Customization: Innovating the Customer Experience
Speakers: Carmen Aguilar, principal, Rockwell Group; Raul Leal, president and COO, Virgin Hotels; Serena Rakhlin ’04, vice president of strategic planning and hotel development, Trump Hotels; Nancy Deck, vice president of multi-brand and loyalty marketing, Hilton Hotels; Stephen Brandman ’85, co-owner, Thompson Hotels
Hospitality Research: Discovering our Future
Moderator: Professor Rohit Verma, School of Hotel Administration
Speakers: Michael Sturman, ILR ’93; Kathleen Walsh; Robert Kwortnik
Awaken Your Senses: The Science of Taste
Speaker: Chris Loss ’96, MS ’01, PhD ’05, Culinary Institute of America
HEC 86 focused on the hospitality industry as a focal point for concepts of globalization to take root. Within the evolving global marketplace, hospitality plays a critical role in how ideas are transferred, economies are shared, and cultures are reinvented. During the weekend, the program explored how hospitality companies need to consider the implications of the global context in which they operate.
HEC 86 Board of Directors
- Willis Cheng ’11
Managing director
- Adam Dennett ’11
Operations director
- Alix Morris ’11
Communications director
- Annie Marlow ’11
Rooms director
- Casey Francis ’11
Procurement director
- Christine Seliga ’11
Guest services director
- Diana Delli Santi ’11
Food and beverage director
- Hannah Greenberg ’11
Program director
- Harryette Kim ’12
Human resources director
- Javier Rodriguez ’12
Marketing director
- Katie Tomechko ’11
Business affairs director
- Lauren Gretzula ’11
Design director
- Lindsey Brous ’12
Executive chef
- Morgan May ’11
Food and beverage service director
The Program
Leading a Global Conversation
Speaker: Edwin Fuller, managing director and president, Marriott Lodging International
Exploring Emerging Markets
Speakers: Larry Hall ’81, president and CEO, PAR-Springer Miller Systems, Inc.; Konstanze Auernheimer, director of marketing and research, STR Global; Scott Berman ’84, principal and hospitality industry leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers; David Pavelko, head of travel, Google; Suzanne Boda, senior vice president, Airport Customer Service, International and Cargo, US Airways
International Table Matters
Speaker: Patricia Harris, chief diversity officer, McDonald’s Corporation
Toasts and Tastings
Speakers: Adam Gold ’99, manager of purchasing, Empire Merchants; Oskar Brynke, estate manager, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard; Virginia Mariani-Kitt ’82, director of hospitality, Banfi Vintners
Tea Time Around the World
Hosts: John Harney ’56, founder and president, Harney & Sons Teas; Michael Harney ’77, vice president, Harney & Sons Teas
The Hotelies Go Global
Speaker: Dean Michael D. Johnson, School of Hotel Administration
Building Brands Across Borders
Speakers: Gerald Lawless, chairman, Jumeirah; Nancy Johnson, executive vice president and chief development officer, Carlson Hotels Worldwide; Steve Haggerty ’90, global head of real estate and development, Hyatt; Kevin Jacobs ’94, senior vice president of corporate strategy, treasurer, Hilton Worldwide
Living Globally, Serving Locally
Speaker: Ben Justus ’08, founder, EGBOK Mission
Secrets of a Restaurant Chef
Demonstrators: Drew Nieporent ’77, owner, Myriad Restaurant Group; Stephen Lewandowski, executive chef, Tribeca Grill
In the midst of the Great Recession, HEC 85 focused on how the hospitality industry discovered and capitalized on unique opportunities to innovate out of the economic downturn. During the weekend, panelists discussed stories of success, failure, and lessons learned as the hospitality industry managed up and out of the down economy.
The program provided guests with the industry’s best foresight into a better economic climate, showcasing tips for developing the best strategies and implementing the most innovative practices.
HEC 85 Board of Directors
- Cathy Popp ’10
Managing director
- Alison Harrigan ’10
Strategy director
- Jessica Rubin ’10
Communications director
- Rachelle Borja ’10
Outreach director
- Willis Cheng ’11
Controller
- Dan Silverman ’10
Marketing director
- Isabelle Calderon ’10
Guest services director
- Jonathon Spada ’10
Design director
- Jose Arrue ’10
Rooms director
- Katherine Kies ’11
Executive chef
- Kristen Fernandes ’10
Student program director
- Marisa Sweeney ’10
Human resources director
- Roberta Wong ’10
Food and beverage service director
- Ryan McNamara ’10
Conference program director
- Sara Fetbroth ’10
Food and beverage director
- Sherin Khona ’11
Procurement director
The Program
What Customers Want
Speaker: Dean Michael Johnson, School of Hotel Administration
Standing Out in a Down Economy
Speaker: Drew Madsen, president and COO, Darden Restaurants
The Price is Right
Moderator: Professor Cathy A. Enz, School of Hotel Administration
Tea Tasting with John Harney
Speakers: John Harney ’56, Michael Harney ’77, Harney & Sons Fine Teas
Investing in a Tight Market
Moderator: Professor Jan A. deRoos, School of Hotel Administration
Speakers: Art Adler, CEO, Joes Lang LaSalle Americas; Roger Hill ’87, CEO, The Gettys Group; Steven Kent, managing director, Global Investment Research Group, Goldman Sachs; Art Buser ’89, CEO, Sunstone Hotel Investors; Simon Turner ’83, president of global development, Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Deductive Wine Tasting Lesson
Speaker: Greg Harrington ’92, owner, Gramercy Cellars
HEC 84 turned its focus toward the most dynamic and exciting hospitality destination in the world: fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. Full of innovation and bursting with entrepreneurial spirit, this sophisticated service economy holds lessons for anyone in the hospitality industry. Attendees familiar with the innermost workings of Vegas’s top destinations shared their expertise with true Sin City flair—and, of course, a few tricks up their sleeves.
HEC 84 Board of Directors
- Kira Gailey ’09
Managing director
- Adam Dennett ’11
Hotel operations director
- Alison Harrigan ’10
Program director
- Cathy Popp ’10
Procurement director
- Erin Cade ’09
Executive chef
- Hilary Wattenberger ’09
Food and beverage service director
- Jessica Rubin ’10
Communication consultant
- Justin Gould ’10
Information systems director
- Katie Tomechko ’11
Conference director
- Kyi Gyaw ’09
Design director
- Michelle Hyjek ’09
Business services director
- Natalie Ho ’09
Food and beverage director
- Peter Bowen ’09
Public relations director
- Rachelle Borja ’10
Human resources director
- Willis Cheng ’11
Guest services director
- Zachary Ruben ’11
Marketing director
The Program
Las Vegas: Past to Present
Speaker: Marc Falcone ’95, Goldman Sachs
Gary Loveman: The Las Vegas Perspective
Speaker: Gary Loveman, CEO, president, chairman, Harrah’s Entertainment
Isadore Sharp: Luxury in Las Vegas
Speaker: Isadore Sharp, founder, CEO, chairman, Four Seasons Hotel Company
Developing Las Vegas
Speaker: Bob Boughner, CEO and president, Echelon Place
Brad Stone: The Future of the Industry
Speaker: Brad Stone, president of global operations and construction, Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Only in Vegas: Operating a Mega Destination
Moderator: Mark Birtha ’94, vice president of development, Marriott International
Speakers: Arthur Keith ’84, president, general manager, The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino; Andrew Klebanow ’91, principal, Gaming Market Advisors; Harry Kassap, vice president of marketing (emeritus), McCarran Airport; Sid Vaikunta ’99, assistant general manager, Suncoast Hotel and Casino (formerly vice president of marketing and operations, Echelon Resorts)
The Las Vegas Restaurant World
Moderator: Professor Chekitan Dev, School of Hotel Administration
Speakers: Elizabeth Blau, founder and CEO, Blau and Associates; Todd English, executive chef and restauranteur; Damian Mogavero, CEO and founder, Avero LLC; Steven Schussler, CEO and founder, Schussler Creative; Jason Lapin ’90, partner, Blau and Associates
Wynn Resorts: Back to Basics
Speaker: Tom Breitling, senior vice president, strategy and development
Deductive Wine Tasting Lesson
Speaker: Greg Harrington ’92, owner, Gramercy Cellars
When discussing possible themes for HEC 83, the board of directors felt that the primary reason people attend HEC was exactly that: H.E.C., or our three core values—Hospitality, Education, and Collaboration. Keeping in mind the organization’s then-new (and current) mission statement, “Showcasing Hospitality Education Through Student Leadership,” the goal for the weekend was to provide all guests with an educational, enjoyable experience and solidify the perception of HEC as the pinnacle of hospitality education.
Among the highlights of the weekend, experts addressed equity in the hospitality industry, presented leisure activities including yoga and wine and honey tastings, and explored the power of sleep.
HEC 83 Board of Directors
- Geoffrey Gray ’08
Managing director
- Alison Harrigan ’10
Guest services director
- Brett Rubin ’08
Operations director
- Cathy Popp ’10
Executive chef
- Grace Juan ’08
Design director
- Gregory Mezey ’09
Guest experience director
- Jessica Powell ’10
Public relations director
- Jessica Rubin ’10
Marketing director
- Kira Gailey ’09
Human resources director
- Liz Longstreet ’08
Food and beverage director
- Michelle Hyjek ’09
Program and conference service director
- Natalie Ho ’09
Food and beverage service director
- Peter Bowen ’09
Program and procurement director
- Tanya Wong ’09
Program director
The Program
Setting the Scene: Industry Update
Speakers: Mark Lomanno, president, Smith Travel Research; Mark Woodworth ’77, MPS ’78, executive vice president, PKF Consulting; Peter Yesawich ’72, chairman and CEO, Y Partnership
The Continual Evolution of Equity
Speakers: Michael Cahill ’84, president and founder, Hospitality Real Estate Counselors; Robert Kline ’84, president and co-founder, Chartres Lodging Group Inc.; Joy Hou ’98, director, Barclays Capital; Allen Smith ’80, managing director and senior portfolio manager, Prudential Real Estate Investors; Simon Turner ’83, principal, Hotel Capital Advisors
Lodging Derivatives: What’s That?
Speaker: Professor Daniel Quan, School of Hotel Administration
The Olympic Impact
Speakers: Ira Cohn, president, Aramark Business and Industry Group; Marc Bruno ’93, vice president, Aramark Business and Industry Group
Power Sleep
Speaker: James Maas, psychology professor and Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow, Cornell College of Arts and Sciences
Hospitality in Emerging Markets
Speakers: Brian Ferguson, senior vice president planning and analysis, Expedia, Inc.; Vincent Joyner, CEO, ACCOR Southern Africa; Paul Sistare, CEO and president, Atlantica International Hotels; Adnan Shamim, director of development, Dubai Infinity Holdings
Wine Tasting
Speaker: Courtney Cochran, owner and founder, Your Personal Sommelier
Honey Tasting
Speaker: Glenn Card, professional beekeeper, Merrimack Valley Apiaries
The theme “Sustainability Through Innovation” capitalized on the then-emerging trend of environmental sustainability, but even then it was not limited strictly to environmentalism. The theme addressed an existential and very contemporary question: what must innovative hospitality organizations do in order to survive and thrive? Everyone knew that the world was changing fast, and a stagnant organization would soon become a dead organization. What people may not have known, however, were the keys to success—the keys to staying alive and relevant as a hospitality organization, then and now.
The aim of HEC 82 was to find answers, and with the help of expert panelists and cutting-edge thinkers, the program helped take the uncertainty and mystery out of how to be green in an ever-changing world.
HEC 82 Board of Directors
- Arthur Chang ’07Managing director
- Colin Thoreen ’08Procurement director
- Erica Killam ’08Food and beverage director
- Carlene Tan ’08Marketing director
- Liz Longstreet ’08Executive chef
- Tanya Wong ’09Guest services director
- Tekla Israelson ’07Program director
- Geoffrey Gray ’08General manager
- Sara Beveridge ’08Design director
- Justin Sun ’08Human resources director
- Karl Manalili ’07Food and beverage service director
- Lawrence Harte ’07Director of business and financial affairs
- Jennifer Jeng ’09Conference services director
- Grace Juan ’08Hotel operations director
The Program
“The Entrepeneurial State of Mind”
Speaker: Leland C. “Lee” Pillsbury ’69, chairman and CEO, Thayer Lodging Group
Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism
Presenters: Ethan Hawkes ’07, Professor Robert J. Kwortnik
Beyond Service: Hospitality Through Sustainability
Speakers: Ted Ning, executive director, LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) Conference; Mark Milstein, director, Center of Sustainable Global Enterprise, Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management; Stefan Muhle, general manager, Orchard Garden; Jim Root, president, ISPA (International Spa Association) & general manager of spa operations, Sea Island; Sandra Taylor, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility, Starbucks Coffee Company; Mark Wuttke, principal, Wuttke Group, LLC
Student/Business Collaboration: Westin Hotels and Resorts
Speakers: Sue Brush, senior vice president, Westin Hotels and Resorts; Professor Chekitan Dev, School of Hotel Administration
Student/Business Collaboration: Darden Restaurants
Speaker: James Lawrence, senior vice president, supply management and purchasing, Darden Restaurants
Chocolate Event
Speaker: Professor Jordan LeBel, School of Hotel Administration
Banfi Wine Tasting
Speaker: Sharron McCarthy, vice president of wine education, Banfi Vintners
