Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series

Dr. Kate Walsh was named the seventh dean and E. M. Statler Professor of the School of Hotel Administration on June 16, 2017. She served as interim dean and E. M. Statler Professor for one year beginning July 1, 2016, the first day of operations for the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. An associate […]

One of America’s legendary oceanfront resort destinations, The Breakers was founded in 1896 by industrialist Henry Flagler on the shores of Palm Beach – a unique location that inspired the resort’s name. This 538-room hotel, modeled after the Villa Medici in Rome, re-invests an unparalleled minimum of $30 million each year in the property’s capital […]

Hyatt Hotels Corporation is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 13 brands and 698 properties in 56 countries. The company was founded in 1957 when Jay Pritzker purchased the Hyatt House motel adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport. Family-owned Hyatt Hotel Corporation has grown to an international hotel management and ownership company […]

American Airlines has been a pioneer in the airline industry since its first flight in 1936. Today, American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, […]

Opened in 2010, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is a trendsetting, luxury resort and casino that has pioneered a new kind of hospitality in the Las Vegas market. It features 3,026 hotel rooms, an 110,000 square-foot casino; retail and restaurant venues; a spa and fitness facility; a 3,200-seat theater; meeting and convention space; and Marquee […]

An all-American, home-style bakery offering classic desserts that are baked on-site daily from scratch, SusieCakes aims to “connect through celebration.” All SusieCakes desserts are baked with fresh ingredients without mixes, artificial preservatives, or trans-fats. Ms. Susan Sarich, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SusieCakes, recalls childhood memories of coming home from school to enjoy her […]

As the daughter of a Hong Kong hotelier, Ms. Grace Leo is no stranger to the hospitality industry. With a distinctive style all her own, Ms. Leo stepped out front in Europe’s design hotel movement and made her name synonymous with visionary concepts and creative executions with refinement, artistic flair, and authenticity. Ms. Leo is […]

A lifelong hotelier, Mr. George Markantonis began his career as a front desk agent in South Africa at age 20. In the time since, his efforts have been recognized on numerous levels. He is a recipient of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s “Arthur Landstreet Award,” and has also been honored with Hotelier of the […]

A graduate of the School of Hotel Administration, Ms. Aida Mollenkamp is a food and travel expert on a mission to taste the world. In December of 2014, she founded Salt & Wind, an online food travel site. Much of Ms. Mollenkamp’s influence comes from her home state of California and Brady Bunch-esc family. She […]

Ms. Elizabeth Blau is credited with transforming Las Vegas’s culinary scene. Her foodservice career, spanning over 23 years, has allowed Ms. Blau to specialize in restaurant planning and development. Her notable achievements include creating an award-winning, 22-concept food and beverage program for Wynn Resort and Casino and partnering in several successful Las Vegas ventures like […]