Hotel Ezra Cornell

Hotelies Spotted Off-Campus!

2009-02-03T12:12:00.003-05:00

In an attempt to persuade even its toughest critics that Hotelies do indeed, on rare occasion, venture beyond the confines of Statler Hall, HEC F&B function managers volunteered their time, talent, and good looks to stage a dinner event as part of the celebrations honoring the 60th anniversary of the Ithaca Youth Bureau.

The dinner, which served 150 guests, was held on January 28 at the Women’s Community Building in downtown Ithaca. Nate Maus ’10 served as chef, and used the opportunity to test out the menu he plans to serve for his Friday night dinner during HEC weekend. Any average group of cooks may have balked at the great challenges faced by the team—for instance, having to serve four courses in an hour and a half, including delicious vegetarian options for high-profile guests such as President Skorton and Newark Mayor Cory Booker…with time built in for speeches and performances. However, Statler’s Culinary Dream Team proved they were worth their weight in edible gold flakes and conquered the event without even a glitch. That’s why we pay them the big bucks! Oh wait…

The dinner preceded a larger, 1100-person event at State Theatre honoring the Ithaca Youth Bureau and its 60 years of service to Ithaca’s youth through recreational sports programs, youth mentorship, and support services. With the theme of “Bridging Racial and Cultural Divides and the Role that Youth Play,” the event featured a speech by Mayor Cory Booker as well as a performance by Uganda-born musician/peace advocate Samite (currently an Ithaca resident) and a breakdancing group from Ithaca High School. Booker, known for his passion for social change, bold ideas, and hands-on approach to service, was called the “Savior of Newark” by Time Magazine for his efforts to fight drugs and crime. He delivered an inspirational speech geared to both adults and youth alike, reminding them of their duty to improve their communities and help this nation live up to its promise.

Congratulations, team, on representing the Hotel School so well within the Ithaca community and for supporting such a worthy cause. Toques off to you!

The Secret Life of the HEC Marketing Team!

2008-11-18T12:42:00.000-05:00

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been wondering: Marketing Team? What is this, some kind of joke? You mean, students voluntarily sign up for the chance to create marketing plans as dense as War and Peace and then stage a trade show where they clamor for the attention of students and faculty like wild lions over a freshly-massacred zebra? Hilarious! (Maybe I’m still bitter about my 243 experience two years ago, what?)

Fortunately, these assumptions are completely wrong. So now you’re really confused… who is the HEC Marketing Team, and what do they possibly do if not create marketing plans and conduct trade shows? Luckily, I have obtained insider information about the Secret Life of the HEC Marketing Team to answer these questions and more—read on!

When they’re not cavorting with Kwortnik or catching a 30-minute nap on the floor of the Student Lounge the night before their project is due (yep, definitely still bitter), the HEC Marketing team, under Director Zachary Ruben, has been researching trends among students and guests, capturing video footage, taking pictures, and designing graphic visuals for HEC weekend.

Market Researcher Dan Silverman has been gathering data about Hotel School students, faculty, and alumni, such as arrival times and guest counts from the HEC Homecoming Tailgate. Dan’s next objective will be studying the effectiveness of quarter cards as a marketing technique. Bit of advice, Dan: all you need to do is look in the recycle bin in the Statler mail room.

Videographers Alex Lieberman and Mauricio Saucedo have been busy gathering film footage from a number of HEC-related events. Alex and Mauricio have posted some of these videos, such as their footage of the HEC Homecoming Tailgate, onto Youtube (the link to this video is also viewable in this semester’s first blog post). In upcoming weeks, Alex and Mauricio will compile more short videos based on events such as Culinary Team meetings. This leaves me with the question: Half-Baked…or Fully-Cooked? Pineapple Express…or Pineapple Upside-Down Cake?

Sarah Shim, Photographer/Chief Paparazzo, has been diligently taking photographs of HEC-related events and functions. Lately, she took pictures of all the HEC teams for the website. You can view her work on The 84th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell Facebook group, in National Enquirer Magazine (I hear she has some good ones of Dean Johnson in Cancun), and soon on Flickr.

Ryan Afari and Eunju Park, Graphic Designers, have been busy designing banners, advertisements, and materials for HEC weekend. Ryan has created eye-catching concepts for door hangers, room cards, and even the legendary the HEC teddy bear (which you too can own—if you sign up to volunteer for HEC!). He also has created a number of flyers advertising the blog, which should be seen around Statler before too long. Eunju created the banner for the HEC tailgate as well as some amazing designs for door hangers, room cards, and the webpage design for this very blog.

If you’re curious about the HEC 84 Invitation, Zachary has now uploaded it to our website at www.hotelezracornell.com. Check it out!

Fortunately, the HEC Marketing Team is not just a group of crazed Hotelie overachievers eager to relive their 243 days (for whatever reason), but are a legitimate, fun-loving, hard-working, and good-looking group (needless to say). Keep your eyes out for the exciting projects described above—you should see posters slowly taking over the bulletin board in the student lounge—and get excited for HEC 84, sure to be “the best ever!”

HEC Takes Over NYC!

2008-11-18T12:18:00.001-05:00

The recent NYC Hotel Show might have been a weekend of fun and games for the lucky students in attendance, but was “Business as Usual” for the HEC Board. While others may have been recovering from a city that actually has a nightlife (rather, one that’s not lame), the HEC Board woke up early to stage a 5-hour Mini Function Flow (this is a precursor to the day-long extravaganza held in February and attended by all Function Managers, Board Assistants, and Board Members). During Mini Function Flow, known to insiders as “MFF,” Board Members ran through the progress they have made so far with regards to HEC weekend: menus, designs, speakers, timelines, amenities, etc. My correspondent tells me that all went according to plan, the advisors gave very useful advice, and HEC looks as though it is gearing up to be (surprise surprise)…The Best Ever! Pause for effect.

In addition, HEC has welcomed a new advisor to the team: Randy Garutti, Managing Partner at Union Square Hospitality. Other advisors include Raj Chandnani (Director of Strategy for WATG), Abigail Charpentier (Vice President of HR for Aramark’s Sports and Entertainment Division), Ed Evans (Chief Personnel Officer for Allied Waste), and Richy Petrina of Moet Hennessy.

Reflections by Cathy Popp Part I: Frolics through New York Goat Farms

2008-10-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

MMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBAAAAAA!

Last Saturday, HEC Function Managers and Board Assistants went on an educational field trip to Lively Run Goat Dairy. In case you weren’t aware (and I’m not sure why you wouldn’t be…you are a Fine Dining major, after all), Lively Run is one of the Finger Lake’s premier goat cheese producers. You can find their fabulous cheeses at several local wineries, Wegman’s and even Taverna Banfi!

So, you may be asking yourself, why on earth did Cathy Popp haul 28 of the Hotel School’s finest students to a smelly goat farm in Interlaken, NY? Well, it was actually an incredibly educational experience, as we learned the entire process of making goat cheese (chèvre), blue cheese, and feta cheese. Additionally, we learned that cheese is twice as delicious when you have personally befriended the goats that are responsible for producing it.

Contrary to what you may think, HEC is more than just a weekend of extreme sleep deprivation and elbow-rubbing with the rich and famous; it is a year-round educational opportunity. As such, we offer fun but useful field trips for all Hotelies involved or interested in HEC. If you have any ideas for future trips, feel free to send an email to Field Trip Coordinator in Residence, Cathy Popp (mcp54).

MMMMMMMBBBBBBBAAAAAAAA! (It’s the sound that a goat makes, in case you didn’t get it the first time.)

Bad Jokes + Upcoming HEC Events!

2008-10-27T15:07:00.004-04:00

¡Hola, muchachos! I know this past week’s been a rough one for all of us, so I’d like to start off with a couple jokes to lighten the mood.

How many Cornell students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Two. One to screw in the light bulb and one to crack under the pressure.

How many Hotelies does it take to screw in a light bulb?
One. Come on guys, we learned that stuff in 105. Sooo freshman year.

How many Hotelies does it take to…guess the number of candy corn pieces in a jar?
That’s a trick question(/joke). I don’t know the answer(/punch line) either. But, you can find out for yourself if you stop by the Student Lounge on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday! The HEC board is holding a Halloween philanthropy event, for which all Hotelies are encouraged to come and guess the number of candy corn pieces in a jar (hence, the clever title of my joke). The winner gets not only a $25 gift card to Maxie’s, but also ALLLLL the candy corn (better alert the dentist ASAP). The board suggests a 50 cent donation to guess, and all the proceeds go to UNICEF. How philanthropic!

A word of advice: it might be a good idea to bring along a buddy, just to have someone available to crack under the pressure for you. Hey, it might be fun to watch.

P.S. No fair if you have an engineer friend guess for you, or someone similarly good at spatial quantification (I don’t even know what it means—in fact, I just made it up—but it sounds like something a smart person would know).

Announcement Part Deux (today’s theme is Multicultural Madness, btw):
HEC is holding a General Body Meeting (read: open to ALL Hotelies) this Tuesday at 4:30 in room 196. The Board will be discussing HEC updates and future events as well a recap of C.Popp’s goat farm trip and the amenity focus group from last Thursday! If you still haven’t gotten involved in HEC yet, this is the perfect way to start!

A final word before I sign off: *****VOTE!!!***** please.

Amenity Focus Group this Thursday!

2008-10-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

Ahoy, ye infamous scallywags! (Sorry, changing my Facebook language settings to “Pirate” has really messed with my vocabularrry.) Anyways, I know you’ve been wondering, “Well, Ellsworth, poking fun at Mark McCarthy and Mark Talbert is all well and good, but seriously, HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN HEC?” I have anticipated your concerns, and I now have your first opportunity: Guest Services Director Willis Cheng will be holding an Amenity Focus Group to brainstorm ideas for HEC 84 amenities! The grogfest will be going down this Thursday (the 23rd) at 4:30 in room 291. This event is open to any Hotelie interested in making sure the HEC 84 Las Vegas Extravaganza will indeed be the “best ever” for our guests.

So, will HEC guests be receiving travel wallets…or poker chips? Rosa Regale wine…or Champagne? Teddy bears…or feather boas? Slippers…or strippers? It’s up to you!

(Unfortunately the Chippendales gentlemen are already booked for the weekend, so don’t suggest this as a guestroom amenity. I know you were thinking about it. Or maybe it was just me.)

Remember: Thursday at 4:30 in room 291. Be tharrr or be shark bait!

HEC Theme and Guest Speakers Announced!

2008-10-15T16:20:00.006-04:00

Hey Guys! I’m Alison Harrigan, the HEC 84 Program Director. It’s my job to plan all the speakers, panels, student collaboration, and leisure events for HEC Weekend.

As many of you might have heard, this year Hotel Ezra Cornell will turn its focus onto Las Vegas! I made my first trip to Sin City this past July with Public Relations Director Peter Bowen, HEC Advisor Reneta McCarthy, and some random guy named Mark McCarthy (I don’t know what his deal is; he seems to hang around the Hotel School an awful lot…security should look into that) to start working on this year’s program.

I have to admit- before I went out to Las Vegas in July, I had envisioned drunk college guys wandering the strip, the classy characters of “Sunset Tan,” drive-thru weddings, more “Elvis” encounters than you would wish even on Mark Talbert, bad buffets, and strippers, strippers, strippers. Turns out, that’s only one side of Vegas. The other side is big, bright, beautiful – and only for the best of the best. You have to be at the absolute top of your game to succeed – even just to survive.

Las Vegas is the Mecca of the Hospitality Industry, and one of the very best places a Hotelie could end up. I know we’re humble folk and prefer to keep our superiority to ourselves…or just within the confines of the global hospitality sector…but, Best of the Best? Brightest of the Brightest? I believe we’ve found a perfect theme for The biggest event at The world-famous Hotel School.

With a Las Vegas theme, HEC 84 is truly going to be the “best ever.” And so far so good! By reaching out to some great resources (and using a combination of good old-fashioned Hotelie good looks and charm), we have already reined some fabulous speakers including:

Isadore Sharp – Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Four Seasons Hotel Company.
Although “Issy” may not be the first person that comes to mind when you think of Las Vegas, few can dispute that he is A Pretty Big Deal in the hospitality industry as a whole (whether his office smells of leather-bound books and mahogany remains uncertain). He will be speaking about Four Seasons Las Vegas’ influence on the strip as well as the role that Cornellians play in Las Vegas. Mr. Sharp rarely makes public appearances or speaking engagements, so we are VERY honored that he has chosen to speak at HEC 84!

Gary Loveman - Chairman, CEO, and President of Harrah’s Entertainment.
You may remember this guy from HADM 2275 (Information Systems) – he came up with the industry’s most successful loyalty program, Total Rewards. He also presided over the industry’s largest transaction ever – the $9.4 billion dollar deal when Harrah’s acquired Caesar’s Entertainment. As if these weren’t enough bragging rights, Loveman has a PhD from MIT and is a former Associate Professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration (too bad about their hockey team, eh?).

Bob Boughner - President and CEO of Echelon Resorts
Sid Vaikunta ’99 - Senior VP, Marketing and Operations
Both of these guys are executives at Echelon Place, one of the biggest developments in Las Vegas today… or should I say, yesterday (Echelon Place’s construction and development is currently on hold). We look forward to hearing their unique perspective on Las Vegas development.

Elizabeth Blau – MMH ’97 – Founder and CEO of Elizabeth Blau & Associates
If you have ever enjoyed Simon at Palms Place, Todd English’s Olives, or Jean Georges’ Vongerichten at the Bellagio Hotel, you have Ms. Blau to thank. Actually, you can pretty much thank Ms. Blau for the entire culinary landscape of modern-day Las Vegas. Ms. Blau is considered Steve Wynn’s go-to restaurant developer and one of the most influential players in the Las Vegas F&B scene. Rumor has it that Ms. Blau might be bringing some celebrity chefs with her for an out-of-this world F&B Panel!

That’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned as I will be keeping you updated with program developments every few weeks (or as often as I’m permitted to hijack the blog). If you want more frequent updates about HEC program developments, feel free to join my Wiggio group! Three easy steps:

1: Wiggio.com (you’re a member, right?)
2: Group Name: HEC 84 Program Team
3: Password: TheValley (this is what insiders call the strip)

And feel free to contact me ANYTIME! Although HEC is all about guest service, we’re really here for the students – so get in touch with me!

Happy HEC-Blogging Everyone!

Hotelie Tailgate '08

2008-10-06T17:32:00.009-04:00

"It never rains on a Hotelie parade!"

These immortal words by Dean Johnson perfectly reflect the Hotelie pride and enthusiasm that was clearly evident (despite the less-than-ideal weather) during the Hotelie Tailgate, HEC’s first major event of the year!

For those of you who were there, you surely remember the epic display of Big Red spirit, camaraderie, and epicurean delights, and took advantage of the chance to enjoy alumni- and faculty-networking, catch a few of Dean Johnson’s one-liners, and binge on pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting (they were indeed epic).

For those of you who weren’t…well, you missed out. Sorry. You should have known better than to sleep in on a Saturday. But hey, I certainly had a good time gorging on the turkey burgers, beef/blue cheese/bacon burgers, Boston baked beans, beer cheddar soup, and cranberry white chocolate chip cookies that you forfeited.

At heart, though, I am a softie, and I don’t want you to be completely out of the loop. So, I’ll take it upon myself to share with you a couple awesome videos that the HEC marketing team created to recap the highlights of the tailgate. As an added bonus, it features exclusive interviews with Hotel School icons, including Executive Chef Erin Cade, Alum Geoff Gray, the always-entertaining Dean Johnson, and Professional Socialite CJ Slicklen.

Highlightsfrom
the Hotelie Tailgate 2008

The Student
Aspect of the Hotelie Tailgate 2008

(The first video is a condensed version of the second, for those of you rushing to make it to Culinary Lab on time.)

By an official count, the event attracted 206 students and 135 alums. However, as all attendees are well aware, this number does not include the number of Hotelie-wannabes who managed to sneak in from under the barricade (or via bribe money, I’m not sure). I’ve also learned from an inside source that as many as five non-Hotel School students snuck into the tailgate in a shoddy attempt at impersonating sophomore Aileen Kline (I always knew she was a big deal, but…wow).

Consider yourself fortunate enough to be one of the “in” crowd. The HEC Tailgate officially re-confirmed our position as the Cream of the Cornell Crop, the Envy of Engineers Everywhere. Everyone wants to be us, or at least crash our parties. Well, we do have the best food, the smartest professors, and the best-looking student body, so who can blame them? Dean Johnson, once again, sums it up quite nicely: “The Hotel School is the glue that holds the university together.”

Great job to all the Function Managers and Board Assistants for a successful kick-off, and thanks to all attendees for showing Cornell what Hotelies are made of! Stay tuned for more opportunities to learn about upcoming HEC events, discover new ways to get involved, and get the inside scoop on your favorite Hotelies!

Building the Excitement for HEC 83

2008-03-22T15:20:00.002-04:00

When we think about HEC, we think about the Statler Hotel, Cornell, and Ithaca. But on March 10, four of the Board Members traveled to the Big Apple to bring HEC to NYC at a cocktail party held at Bouley’s Test Kitchen in Tribeca. This initiative, coined “HEC in NYC,” was the first of its kind and was developed from an idea from one of our industry advisors, Richy Petrina. The purpose of this cocktail was to help keep HEC in people’s minds by meeting with Hotelie Alumni and industry people in the NYC area to talk about HEC, build up excitement for HEC 83, and encourage them come to this HEC or a future HEC weekends.

The cocktail was a great success! The Board Members had a great time mingling with the guests, sharing some of the exciting program items for HEC 83, and eating delicious food cooked by Chef Bouley himself! Some of the guests included Albert Cleary (Managing Director of HEC 50 and Mr. Adie’s freshman year roomie), and Deniz Omurgonulsen ’00 (Managing Director of HEC 75). “HEC in NYC” is definitely something we want to do again in the future to help us build strong relationships with our alumni and industry people and spread the word about HEC.

So you are probably wondering what the exciting program items were for HEC 83 that the Board Members were sharing. Well that’s a great question!

This year, the Board has worked hard to have a program that is balanced with educational panels, fun leisure events, and student-guest interaction. The first panel of the weekend is “Setting the Scene- Industry Update” which discusses the state of the hospitality industry and issues that are affecting it. The panel consists of Mark Woodworth ’77 (Executive Vice President of PKF Consulting), Peter Yesawich ’72 (Chairman & CEO of Y Partnership), and Mark Lomanno (President of Smith Travel Research—you know, the company that does the STAR report we all learned about in HA 105!).

Keeping with the theme of hot issues in the industry, another panel on the program is Hospitality in Emerging Markets which discusses the hotel development in Latin America, South Africa, and the UAE. This panel features Vincent Joyner (CEO of ACCOR Southern Africa), Paul Sistare (CEO & President of Atlantica Hotels), and Adnan Shamim (Director of Development of Dubai Infinity Holdings).

When the guests aren’t in panels, they can enjoy leisure events like Yoga in the Park Atrium, a honey tasting with Merrimack Valley Apiaries, or a wine tasting of hip new tastes with Courtney Cochran (Author of Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine). Visit Courtney’s web site at www.courtneycochran.com.

The Board has also planned a student-guest casual networking event called Cordial Coffee Connections. Students will get to meet with guests in the Regent Lounge on Saturday afternoon, have some coffee, and talk about the college, careers, and life in general.

And what’s a Hotelie weekend without food and drinks! The weekend features events with menus planned by our own classmates of cuisines from Italy, Louisiana, and South East Asia. We also have an off-site cocktail across the street at Sage Atrium, and our closing cocktail is held in a dressed up Park Atrium where the weekend volunteers and guests can celebrate a successful weekend!

…..All that sounds exciting right? Well you can still join in on the excitement too! It’s not too late to sign up to volunteer during the weekend. Volunteering during the weekend is a great opportunity to get the behind the scenes look at what it takes to run a big conference like HEC, get face time with alumni and industry people, and get a chance to interact more with fellow Hotelies! Some events you can still volunteer for include front of house servers for The Closing Cocktail, The Power Lunch, and The Gala Dinner. Be sure to contact the HR Director, Kira Gailey, at kcg23@cornell.edu to get more information and sign up for a shift!

Enjoy the rest of your break and get excited for HEC 83!

HEC Cookie Contest Winner Announced

2008-02-01T14:58:00.000-05:00

On Monday, January 28, SHA students were treated to samples of the HEC Cookie Contest’s final eight recipes in the World Atrium. Ranging from cookies containing potato chips to more traditional oatmeal cookies, each recipe was extremely delicious, making for a tough competition.

In the end, freshman hotelie Allison Stover took down the competition with her “Chocolate Truffle Cookies.” An adaptation of a recipe from The Gourmet Cookbook, this recipe wowed voters with its rich chocolate flavoring and subtle hints of espresso.

But the espresso component was not a part of the original recipe. According to Allison, “I made the decision to add espresso to the recipe because chocolate and coffee are simply wonderful together…[the espresso] adds a complexity and really enhances the flavor.”

For Allison, the decision to enter the “Chocolate Truffle Cookies” into the competition was an easy one. She claims that “after making the recipe I was sold.” And apparently, so were the other hotelies lucky enough to get a taste of her winning creation.

Allison’s “Chocolate Truffle Cookies” and her winning recipe will be a featured amenity in each Statler guestroom during HEC 83, appealing to the sweet teeth of alumni and industry leaders alike.

Season Premiere

2007-10-15T19:50:00.000-04:00

Welcome to "Lot 83", your official backstage pass to the making of The 83rd Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell! While the "big show" isn't until this coming April, there's lots to do and preparations are officially underway! Start marking your calendar and filling up your Blackberry® now for all of the exciting upcoming events!

Check out the tour schedule below to find out how you can be a part of The Hotel School's most prized tradition.

2007-2008 HEC Tour Schedule

Upcoming Fall Program Items
October
Discussion Series
Featuring Mark Lomanno, President, Smith Travel Research
Find out about industry trends --present and future-- from a #1 expert and get a first look into STR Global. You don't want to miss this!
Monday, October 29th
Statler 398
4:30 pm

November
International Hotel Motel & Restaurant Show (IHMRS)
November 10-13, 2007
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City
Start packing your bags! HEC is leaving our hub in Ithaca for a few days to shine at the IHMRS in the "The Big Apple."
For additional information, please visit http://www.ihmrs.com/

Cookie Design Contest
Always wanted to get up to the band's suite? Well, here's a chance to have your favorite cookie recipe featured as one of the guestroom amenities during HEC!
Submissions due by November 16, 2007

Focus Group
The day to day life of a star is filled with fabulous perks. After all, no Hollywood-worthy event can take place without the added bonus of fabulous swag!
That's why Design and Guest Services will be hosting a focus group next month to get your feedback on hot plate designs and really awesome amenities that will be featured throughout the weekend.

Community Service Initiative
We even party like rock stars off campus while helping out in the greater Ithaca community. Come join our team and lets show everyone what service is really all about! Stay tuned for more details.

Here's what you can look forward to this year from HEC's official blog:
o Candid interviews
o Games & Contests
o HEC Trivia
o & Much more!

Stay tuned for more exciting developments!

COMING SOON!

2007-10-15T08:16:00.000-04:00

The 83rd Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell invites you to the premiere of the newly designed blog on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 8pm.

Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism

2007-04-01T19:44:00.000-04:00

Ellsworth here to report that HEC is only 11 days away! There is still plenty of time for volunteers to sign up to help at particular events. To view available time slots, please visit Hotel Ezra Cornell on Blackboard and click the “Volunteer” button on the left module. To sign up for a shift, please e-mail Justin Sun at js389@cornell.edu.

As for now, I wish to disclose a preview of an upcoming HEC event. This week I had the pleasure of meeting with Professor Kwortnik and Mr. Ethan Hawkes ‘07 to discuss their case study, Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism. Professor Kwortnik and Mr. Hawkes will discuss their case study at HEC 82 on Friday, April 12th between the hour of 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.

Ethan began his research as a Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar (R-CPRS), a formal program that funds undergraduate Cornell students interested in pursuing research; the program collaborates undergraduate students with faculty members who exhibit prior industry research experience. Through the program, Ethan began researching the hospitality industry during his freshman year in coordination with Professor Kwortnik. “Along with a setting a roadmap and research requirements, the program provides funding and requires a summer spent pursuing research.” Whereas many CPRS students spend their summers conducting research in a laboratory setting, Ethan chose to pursue his research in Jamaica during the summer after his sophomore year at Cornell.

“I was feeling very independent about shaping the direction of my research, and Professor Kwortnik encouraged me to come up with a topic/study that I was interested in. I chose to do my summer of research in Jamaica. Specifically, I wanted to look at the differences between independent operations marketed as sustainable tourism ventures and the all-inclusive beach resorts. And that's exactly how I structured my summer; I spent half of it working on projects with Jamaica's sustainable tourism champion in the Blue Mountains, and half in Montego Bay with the GM of a large all-inclusive property.”

Professor Kwortnik commented on the study and its incorporation of a more hedonistic form of tourism. Jamaica, he noted, is specifically recognized for its crime and poverty troubles; all-inclusive resorts, such as the one Ethan spent time at, are criticized for reaping Jamaica’s benefits and not giving back to the community. However, many tourists who visit the island are not exposed to this side of Jamaica; instead, natives are literally fenced in from visitors and all-inclusive properties.

Upon his return to Cornell, Ethan sorted through the data with Professor Kwortnik. “We identified several emergent themes that would best be shared in a case study. I found that the process of actually turning data into a paper/case study is remarkably arduous and daunting. While I have no problem writing long papers for class, Professor Kwortnik had to set some hard deadlines to get me going. That was a memorable winter break, but the feeling of having a paper accepted for publication was equally unforgettable.”

During HEC weekend, Ethan and Professor Kwortnik will discuss the findings of the study. “I want to summarize my findings on sustainable tourism from Jamaica. These pertain to sustainability, development strategy, and tourism. I will also talk a bit about hospitality consulting work and research that I did in Lebanon this summer. I will do my best to do so in a way that can be extrapolated and used by the audience. I won't give it away here, so you'll have to come!” In addition, Ethan expects to cover the importance of undergraduate research and how research experience can augment an education. For undergraduate students, a research experience can be especially meaningful to future endeavors; Ethan’s commendable research in the hospitality industry is representative of the magnitude of an undergraduate research experience.

Cornell offers distinctive research opportunities to its students, especially at the undergraduate level. Ethan commented that, “research provides exposure and unprecedented access to both professors and new ideas. As students, we often do not see the research side of professors' work unless it is in final form. At Cornell, research is an exciting part of being a professor, and it can be the same for undergraduates. It is also a great opportunity to explore your interests and take ownership of your education.”

Professor Kwortnik added Ethan’s specific experience with research in the hospitality industry allowed him to bring together what students at the Hotel School learn about being an industry leader and extending knowledge to other areas. In addition, the research aspect of Ethan’s work has not just been about the dissemination of knowledge, but the creation of industry awareness as well.

“Furthermore,” Ethan added. “it takes an incredible teacher to translate research opportunities to the undergraduate community. In all my experiences, I have found that professors at The Hotel School are remarkably committed to the students. Involving students in research is a risk that many would not take given the pressure to publish. Indeed, from a pure publication perspective, intimately working with students seems to offer a lousy ROI, and I now understand why PhD programs can take five or more years. Receiving that research experience at the undergraduate level has made my Cornell experience exceptional; it has also brightened my prospects and interests for post-graduation. I firmly attribute my positive experience to three things: the culture of Cornell and The Hotel School, Professor Kwortnik, and the R-CPRS program.”

The above information is simply an excerpt of Ethan’s research on sustainable tourism. To learn more about Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism, be sure to attend Ethan and Professor Kwortnik’s discussion on Friday, April 12th between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.

Bearably Yours,

Ellsworth

A Message From HEC 82's Managing Director

2007-03-28T08:19:00.000-04:00

Dear SHA Community,

The HEC Board and I would like to welcome you back after a week of sandy beaches, swaying hammocks, and refreshing Piña Coladas. To those who had the pleasure of staying in Ithaca, we hope you enjoyed a week away from the hustle and bustle of classes and students.

Can you imagine that the 82nd Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell is only two weeks away? In this email, I will explain why HEC is relevant and important to you, update you on what’s hot on our program, and provide you with action steps on how to get involved.

Why is HEC important and relevant to you?

HEC is important to you because we’ve redefined our mission to be “Showcasing Hospitality Education Through Student Leadership.” Only your involvement can help us showcase the very best talents of the Hotel School to the rest of the industry—and HEC is the perfect place for that!

Moreover, our theme of “Sustainability Through Innovation” challenges a very relevant issue for you and our industry. How can we compel ourselves to achieve both organizational and environmental sustainability through continual innovation? Find out during HEC 82.

What’s HOT on our program?

Everything is! But of course, many of you will be very busy during the weekend, so let me highlight some key events that should not be missed:

“The Entrepreneurial State of Mind”—Keynote Address by Leland C. “Lee” Pillsbury. Be inspired to embrace uncertainty, disruption, and risk when the world (and perhaps your boss) prizes confidence, calmness, and security. Friday, 8:45 AM, Statler Auditorium
“Student Concept Fair.” This is your chance to see the Hotel School students shine. Watch your peers share their entrepreneurial ideas with you and then guests will “write a check” to invest in the best business plan. The winners will actually split a total of $3,000 in prize money! Friday, 11:15 AM, Park Atrium
“Student Showcase”—the best projects from all classes in the Hotel School. Mingle with guests and chat with your peers because who knows, your project might be showcased next year! Saturday, 10:00 AM, Terrace Lounge
“Sustainability Panel.” Industry leaders share their views on sustainability in their organizations with involvement from students in Cornell’s Sustainable Enterprise Association. Make sure you come with lots of questions for our panelists so that we can all learn how to adopt sustainable business practices for the future. Saturday, 12:15 PM, Statler Auditorium
“Closing Cocktail”. The perfect ending to the best ever Hotel Ezra Cornell weekend. This event is only open to those who volunteered for HEC. Saturday, 9:00 PM, Park Atrium

Please feel free to check our website www.hotelezracornell.com for more information!

How can you get involved?

Aside from attending the events I outlined above, the best way to get involved is to VOLUNTEER for the weekend! We’ve created a number of opportunities for you to showcase your skills to the industry leaders. You can do anything from serving a meal to the President of Westin Hotels to turning down the room of the Director of Operations for Starbucks to many other opportunities!

Thus, please join us this week at our recruiting fair for more information and get some great HEC keepsakes for volunteering for shifts! I, along with many board members, will be there to answer any questions you may have for HEC and beyond. So whether you are a student looking to volunteer or a staff member wanting to learn more about HEC 82, join us this week:

Dates: This Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Location: World Atrium

Remember, HEC exists for you! We’re here to provide you with an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, showcasing why the Hotel School is the best in the world. The weekend is only two weeks away. We’ve done everything we could to make HEC into the “Summit of Hospitality Education.”

Won’t you join our cause?

Thank you so much for your time, and see you around this week in the World Atrium!

Yours in service,

Arthur Chang '07
Managing Director

HEC Recruitment Week March 27th-29th

2007-03-25T09:38:00.000-04:00

Hello Hotelies and welcome back from Spring Break ’07! I hope you all enjoyed your breaks and were able to catch up on some rest. I know I certainly did! I encountered some problems between the airline and my luggage upon my arrival in Puerto Rico; in fact, I was missing sunscreen for a few days that I ended up having some of my bear fur burned to a crisp… But all is well, as I have recovered both my luggage and my fur.

Anyway, HEC 82 is just around the corner. That’s right! April 12th – 15th calls for a weekend of excitement, fulfilled with sustainability through innovation. If you are still not yet involved in this year’s HEC, I am about to disclose how you can become involved in what will be the best HEC ever – HEC 82, why of course. Much thanks to Justin Sun, Human Resources Director, for the following information.

The next upcoming HEC event is Recruitment Week; Recruitment Week will take place from March 27-29 (Tuesday through Thursday) from 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM in the Statler World Atrium. Volunteers are essential to the success of HEC; volunteers are the underlying reason why HEC exists. Without volunteers, the weekend cannot progress and HEC cannot run smoothly.

Recruiting Week is HEC's effort to spread the buzz about HEC and to get as many student volunteers--both Hotelies and non-Hotelies--as we can to participate in the weekend. Opportunities for volunteers are available in the following departments:

- Hotel Operations
- Conference Services
- Food and Beverage Service
- Culinary
- Human Resources

Department positions and their descriptions include the following:

Hotel Operations

Position Available:

Guest Services Staff Member: Assist with activities designed to enhance the guest experience; compete in the HEC 82 Service Olympics.

Turndown Service
Thursday, April 12, 2007
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Friday, April 13, 2007
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Conference Services

Positions Available:

Setup Team Member: Assist the F&B and Design Teams with setup of the function
Breakdown Team Member: Assist with breaking down and cleaning up after the event
Truck Off-load Team Member: Assist with removing HEC supplies from truck

Welcome Cocktail
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Setup Team Member
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Breakdown Team Member
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Power Lunch
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Setup Team Member
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Pre-Dinner Cocktail
Friday, April 13, 2007
Setup Team Member
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Student Concept Fair
Friday, April 13, 2007
Setup Team Member
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Power Lunch
Friday, April 13, 2007
Breakdown Team Member
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Gala Banquet
Friday, April 13, 2007
Setup Team Member
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Concept Fair
Friday, April 13, 2007
Setup Team Member
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Johnson Art Museum Cocktail
Friday, April 13, 2007
Setup Team Member
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Breakdown Team Member
11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Truck Off-load Team Member
12:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.

Pre-Dinner Cocktail
Friday, April 13, 2007
Breakdown Team Member
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Gala Banquet
Friday, April 13, 2007
Breakdown Team Member
10:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Dean’s Brunch
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Setup Team Member
12:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Pre-Dinner Cocktail
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Setup Team Member
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Concept Fair
Breakdown Team Member
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Dean's Brunch
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Breakdown Team Member
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Closing Cocktail
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Setup Team Member
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Food and Beverage Services

Positions Available:

Butler: Serve appetizers and drinks
Food Server: Assist in clearing tables, food-running, and all F&B service operations
Beverage Server: Serve and clear all wine and beverages

Opening Cocktail
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Butler
3:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Opening Breakfast
Friday, April 13, 2007
Food Server
6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Food Server
Friday AM Breakout
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Power Lunch
Friday, April 13, 2007
Food Server
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Food Sever
Friday PM Breakout
12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Pre-Gala Cocktail
Friday, April 13, 2007
Butler
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Gala Banquet
Friday, April 13, 2007
Food Server
5:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Beverage Server
5:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Johnson Art Museum Cocktail
Friday, April 13, 2007
Beverage Server/Butler
7:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Food Server
6:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Dean’s Brunch
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Food and Beverage Server
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday Breakout
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Food Server
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Pre-Dinner Cocktail
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Butler
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sustainable Dinner
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Food Server
4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Beverage Server
4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Stuzzichini Dinner
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Food Server
4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.Beverage Server
4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Closing Cocktail
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Butler
6:00 p.m – 1:00 a.m.

Culinary

Position Available:

Culinary Team Member: Assist with food prep for F&B functions; assist with cooking and plating of dishes

Please sign up on the “Culinary Team” sign-up list if you are interested or contact Liz Longstreet at egl5@cornell.edu.

Human Resources

Position Available:

Human Resources Team Member: Create and distribute volunteer nametags; distribute and collect volunteer uniforms; assist volunteers with questions about their functions

Please sign up on the “Human Resources Team” sign-up list if you are interested or contact Justin Sun at js389@cornell.edu.

During Recruiting Week, members of HEC will be in the Atrium to answer questions that students have about volunteering at various functions during the weekend. Students can earn HEC memorabilia (i.e. HEC poker chips, cards, and decorations from previous HECs) for each function that they sign up for. HEC has a lot of random items to give away, such as candles, puppets, and other interesting items—you'll just have to stop by and see what's available.

If you wish to volunteer, please contact Justin Sun at js389@cornell.edu with your first and last name, telephone number, name of the function(s) and shift(s) that you want to volunteer for, and position that you would like to work (i.e. Food Server, Butler).

Bearably Yours,

Ellsworth

Spring Break is Just Around the Corner

2007-03-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

Hotelies! Ellsworth here to sign off quickly right before spring break. I hope all of you enjoy your spring break – this has definitely been a tough semester for me and I am looking forward to some much needed rest and relaxation down in Puerto Rico. My suitcase is almost all packed; I have some sunscreen, pool shorts, my overly festive Hawaiian shirt, and my shades (of course). I am ready to hit up the sun with friends (including Miss Alice Statler!) and be pampered on the pristine beaches in accompaniment with some of the world’s finest hospitality.

I am flying down to Puerto Rico Saturday morning and I hope to be greeted with warmth and sunshine. Although the weather in Ithaca has been somewhat fair this last week, it will be refreshing to be in an environment with 80° weather all week! I am staying at a hotel right on the beach with fellow Hotelies, so we are assured a good time.

Meanwhile, I wish you all a fantastic break. Be sure to rest up and return ready to work hard – the end of the semester is approaching quickly. In addition, HEC is coming up. I hope you all are planning to be involved in this year’s HEC. If you are still unsure of what you can do, be sure to read over previous blog entries for ideas as to how you can become involved! There is a lot to do, a lot that you can do – and I expect every Hotelie to be involved in HEC this year in some way!

Stay Bearably Cool,

Ellsworth

HEC 82 Culinary Team

2007-03-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

Good afternoon Hotelies! Ellsworth here with an important message I just received from Jackie Quinlan regarding HEC 82’s Culinary Team. The team is a great way for Hotelies to become involved with our upcoming HEC (which is less than one month away!). Here is what Jackie has to say:

The Culinary Team is the group that helps the function managers or individual chefs prepare food during HEC weekend for each function. The majority of the team is comprised up of freshmen who are new to the Hotel School and HEC. (Freshmen – this is a great way to become involved in HEC as well as to meet fellow class members!) Our main goal is to teach students the culinary skills they will need during the weekend and to give them a positive experience so that students will want to be involved in the F&B side of HEC in the future.

For additional information about joining the HEC Culinary Team, please contact Jackie Quinlan at jaq3@cornell.edu.

HEC 82's Design Layout

2007-03-09T04:01:00.000-05:00

Today, over a very fine Terrace luncheon, I conversed with my friend – and secret Valentine, shhh! – Alice Statler about HEC 82. Firstly, there are 34 days until HEC. What are you planning on doing for HEC this year? Are you getting excited? I know my excitement is growing!

In addition, Alice and I both agreed that the overall design for this year’s HEC is very fresh. The light bulbs are symbolic of our country’s innovation with technology; the light bulb design aims to capture HEC’s similar innovative vision of the hospitality industry.

Haven’t seen HEC 82’s design layout? Here it is:

What do you think about it?

Unbearably Excited about HEC 82,

Ellsworth

Put Our Service to the Test!

2007-03-04T19:23:00.000-05:00

Here is a very special announcement from Karl Manalili, our Food and Beverage Service Director for this year’s HEC.

"Be our guest, be our guest. Put our SERVICE to the test!”

And by service, I mean food and beverage service. And I mean that warm, comforting, and memorable kind of service.

HEC attendees are not customers; they are not clients; they are not VIP's, donors, purchasers, or consumers. They are our guests. We will treat them like the honored guests they are. How? Through excellence in foodservice.

As the F&B Service Director, my responsibility is to help plan and overlook all front-of-house operations of the HEC Weekend. The F&B Service Function Managers and the Service Team both play vital roles in displaying this excellence in foodservice through managing, training, staffing, recruiting performances.

The Service Team trainings are open to all students of the Hotel School. The training sessions give attendees a better understanding of both foodservice and bartending skills. Meetings are held every Friday at 12:30pm. If you are interested in joining, feel free to contact kam225@cornell.edu.

82nd HEC Program

2007-02-27T09:36:00.000-05:00

Here is the program for the 82nd HEC weekend!

Thursday, April 12, 2007
5:30AM – 7:30PM
Welcome Cocktail

For the first time, Dean Michael Johnson, along with Managing Director Arthur Chang, will be kicking off the Hotel Ezra Cornell weekend. Opening remarks by the Dean and Managing Director complement a cocktail that honors our 82-year history. Be sure to take a look at the archive display in the first floor conference foyer while enjoying a light dinner option in the ballroom.

Friday, April 13, 2007
7:00AM – 8:45AM
Opening Breakfast

Oh my, this is the best blueberry muffin I’ve ever had! Breakfast this morning features the best of classic breakfast foods like you have never had them before. Whether you want a full breakfast or just a cup of coffee to start your busy day, you will be pleased with this fresh breakfast.

8:45AM – 10:15AM
Innovating an Empire

Mr. Leland Pillsbury ’69, Chairman and CEO of Thayer Lodging Group, will draw on his vast experiences to describe the relationship between HEC’s theme of “Sustainability Through Innovation” and his own concept of “Entrepreneurship as a State of Mind.” As an audience member, you will learn why you should embrace uncertainty, disruption, and risk when the world (and perhaps your boss) prizes confidence, calmness, and security. You will leave feeing inspired and ready to act!

10:15AM – 10:45AM
Coffee Break

Timed throughout the educational sessions, the coffee breaks will be a perfect chance for you to re-energize with some caffeine and tasty house-made snacks.

11:15AM – 12:45PM
Student Business Concept Fair

The Student Business Concept Fair will showcase business concepts that have been developed throughout the year by select teams of undergraduate and graduate Hotel School students enrolled in the Marketing and Restaurant Development courses. We invite you to visit the exhibition and get to know the teams as they share their ideas with you. Then, “write a check” to invest in your favorites! The winning teams will be rewarded for their hard work and ingenuity.

12:30PM – 01:30PM
Power Lunch

Olive oil, fresh seafood, mozzarella cheese, ripe tomatoes, and roasted garlic – the only thing missing from this Mediterranean menu is the smell of the sea. Our lavish lunch buffet will make you think that you have traded Ithaca for Italy. And with plenty of space in the ballroom to mingle with other guests, the Power Lunch is not to be missed.

1:30PM – 3:30PM
Interactive Lessons (Ongoing)

Stop by for a 30-minute tutorial, and leave with up-to-date Microsoft Office skills. Current Hotel School teaching assistants will lead these interactive drop-in lessons, which will provide an excellent opportunity to improve your computer literacy. Two labs will be available: one for beginners looking to learn a few shortcuts and another providing more advanced lessons in Excel business modeling.

1:30PM – 2:30PM
Connecting with the Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism
By Ethan Hawkes ‘07 and Professor Robert J. Kwortnik

In a destination dominated by all-inclusive resorts, a different tourism venture seeks to offer guests a genuine connection to the community. "VillageLife Tourism" and its associated "Okra Inn" demonstrate how tourism can be sustainable and can benefit both tourists and local purveyors. This message has so far gone largely unheard in a market that celebrates sand, sun, and service-in resorts that operate in fenced-off compounds. This case study analyzes VillageLife's challenges and prospects, the most promising of which is partnering with the all-inclusive properties.

2:45PM – 3:45PM
Student/Business Collaboration: Darden Restaurants

In October, MMH students participated in a weekend-long supply chain management case study, sponsored by Darden Restaurants. Our first Student/Business Collaboration will start with a presentation by the winning team, followed by relevant comments from Darden representatives. At the end of the presentation, you will have time to ask questions, and before the weekend event begins, you’ll receive a copy of the case study as “homework”!

7:00PM – 9:30PM
Gala Banquet

The Gala Banquet will honor the past, present, and future of Hotel Ezra Cornell and its mission of “Showcasing Hospitality Education Through Student Leadership.” The interactive menu, designed by Hotel School senior Bradlee Hancock, is inspired by American and French cuisines and will perfectly reflect this year’s Board of Directors’ passion for innovating old traditions.

9:30PM – 11:30PM
Johnson Art Museum Cocktail

When the Gala Banquet ends, you can pick up the shuttle from the Statler Hotel and join us at the Herbert F. Johnson Art Museum for a night to remember. You will have a chance to visit all of the museum exhibit floors while you are enchanted with the live classical music, rich desserts, and your favorite cocktails. And just when you think the evening is over, our Managing Director Arthur Chang, will unveil a big surprise!

Saturday, April 14, 2007
7:30AM – 9:30AM
Continental Breakfast

This morning’s light and airy breakfast is a collaboration of food and tea. Each menu item will be paired with one of Harney and Sons exquisite teas: for example orange poppyseed muffins and Classic Earl Grey. Coffee drinkers, don’t despair, you will find plenty of Starbucks Coffee to enjoy with your breakfast.

9:30AM – 11:00AM
Student/Business Collaboration: Westin Resorts

Our second Student/Business Collaboration will showcase student research from Professor Chekitan S. Dev’s Brand Management course. You will have the opportunity to discuss a stimulating Westin Hotels & Resorts case study and learn how Sue Brush, SVP of Westin Resorts, partnered with Hotel School students to develop new ways to brand the company.

10:00AM – 12:00PM
Student Showcase

The Student Showcase will feature a wide variety of projects from talented Hotel School students. As you meander into the Dean’s Brunch, you will be able to talk with students in a relaxed atmosphere, then listen and watch as they demonstrate their best work from Hotel School classes and activities.

10:30AM – 12:00PM
Dean’s Brunch

You will have to save your appetite for Dean Johnson’s Brunch because the menu will have all of your breakfast staples, as well as some delicious lunch items. Whether you are in the mood for eggs and Applewood smoked bacon or leg of lamb and watercress soup, you will certainly want to come hungry.

12:15PM – 01:45PM
Sustaining the Environment

Listen to a panel of experts tackle the critical question of what businesses must do in order to be environmentally sustainable. Featuring:

▪ Mark WuttkePrincipal of Wuttke Group
▪ Ted NingExecutive Director of the LOHAS Conference
▪ Sandra TaylorSenior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility of Starbucks Coffee
▪ Mark MilsteinDirector of the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise at the Johnson
School of Management
▪ Stefan MuhleGeneral Manager of Orchard Garden

2:15PM – 5:15PM
4th Annual Culinary Mystery Box

Calling all gods and goddesses of the kitchen! The 4th annual Culinary Mystery Box Competition invites you to show off your culinary skills in an “Iron Chef” style competition. Teams of four will create a 3-course meal using pre-selected “mystery” ingredients, which will not be revealed until the start of the event. This year’s theme will be Greek food, although you need not have prior experience with Greek cooking (or with cooking in general). If you want to have a shot at the gold medal, then you’ll have to sign up for the Culinary Mystery Box and be ready for a competition of Olympic proportions!

2:15PM – 3:30PM
Chocolate Event

Hotel School Professor Jordan LeBel, resident chocolate expert, will lead guests through a two part lesson on the world of chocolate. Follow the history of chocolate from its beginning as the favorite drink of the Aztec emperor Montezuma to its newest incarnation as solid bars sourcing beans from single countries or even single plantations. Like fine wine, fine chocolate is an experience that is enhanced through side by side comparisons of different chocolate bars. At this event guests will have the opportunity to sample several different types provided by HEC 82’s exclusive chocolate donor, Dagoba Organic Chocolate.

3:45PM – 5:15PM
Banfi Wine Tasting

Join us for an unparalleled barrel tasting of Poggio alle Mura featuring Sharron McCarthy, Vice President of wine education for Banfi Vintners: discover how the wine’s three grapes—clones BF 30, Janus 10, and Janus 50—contribute their individual character to the final blend. In addition, we will titillate your palate with the captivating Principessa Perlante, the alluring Riserva Brunello di Montalcino ‘Poggio All’Oro’, and the romantic Rosa Regale.

7:00PM – 9:00PM
Sustainable Dinner

Inspired by the theme of this year’s Hotel Ezra Cornell conference, the Sustainable Dinner exposes our guests to the best and freshest products that sustainable farming has to offer. Each of the menu’s five courses, designed by Hotel School senior Sarah Yardeni, will highlight ingredients from a local organic producer. Attendees will enjoy the finest food and wine that New York State has to offer.

7:00PM – 9:00PM
Tapas Dinner

Hotel Ezra Cornell and the Statler Hotel will excitedly feature the newly renovated Taverna Banfi during this special tapas dinner. Hotel School juniors Kirk Kelewae and Scott Westerman have worked closely with Castello Banfi and the Mariani family to create a unique dining experience that reflects the cuisine and atmosphere of Montalcino, Italy. The four-course menu will be served family or tapas style and will be paired exclusively with Castello Banfi wines.

9:00PM – 11:00PM
Closing Cocktail

The perfect ending to another best ever Hotel Ezra Cornell weekend, the Closing Cocktail will bring together guests, faculty, and students to enjoy dessert and music. You will want to pack early, so you do not have to miss a single minute of our farewell festivities.

Creative Mission and Vision!

2007-02-18T21:01:00.000-05:00

Hotelies! I am back for yet another blog entry this week. Anyway, I spent my Valentine’s Day snowed in, catching up on some industry reading. I came across one particular article which sparked my interest – “What a Resort Experience Can Become When You Have a Daring Mission and Vision Statement,” posted on Hotel Online. I, personally, have a strong interest in marketing – especially for the hospitality industry. In addition, I found the message of this article relative to this year’s HEC.

The goal of HEC 82 is to discover “what innovative hospitality organizations [must] do in order to survive and to thrive.” In other words, the world changes quickly – the needs of customers are easily offset, especially by the availability of pioneering technology. As a result, hospitality organizations must keep up with the changing needs of the market through innovation to maintain the sustainability of its customers – but the question is, how?

The article I came across on Valentine’s Day offers a unique perspective that correlates with HEC 82’s goal. The overall message of this article is that hospitality companies should focus on creating unique mission and vision statements that aim to provide guests with the most distinctive experience possible. In addition, the author indicates that mission and vision statements should not be mainstream (i.e. to maximize efficiency or increase shareholder value); instead, such statements should serve to reflect the creativity of the business and provide the most sentimental experience to the guest.

So, how does HEC 82 fit into this? Easy. Creating mission and vision statements that eschew conventionalism and instead focus on maximizing the guest’s overall experience is part of sustaining long term customer relationships through innovation. This is, after all, one answer to HEC 82’s goal.

Read the article for yourself: http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2007_1st/Feb07_ResortExperience.html

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear them. Leave me a bearable comment below.

Beary Good Wishes for Spring,

Ellsworth

Happy Snow and Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T22:49:00.000-05:00

Hello and Happy Valentine’s Day fellow Hotelies! Well, it certainly was a fantastic surprise to wake up this morning to a world of white bliss; no other location could possibly be more peaceful than Ithaca in the snow. What is it about snow that makes it like a red light – forcing even the most industrious worker to hinder his craft and take notice of the enchantment and simplicity of a white milieu? Well, okay. Maybe not every worker halts his job; I know we Hotelies are notorious for being hard workers. However, I hope you at least enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate during this eleventh snow day in Cornell history.

This past weekend, HEC held its Function Flow for the upcoming Hotel Ezra Cornell weekend. It was quite an exciting event! Not only were all board members, board assistants, and function managers photographed, but Function Flow outlined what we can expect for the weekend of April 13th. I am overly excited about this year’s HEC; you should be, too! Here is some insider information about Function Flow, just in case you missed out:

Liz Longstreet, the Executive Chef, remarked, “for Function Flow, the Back-of-House team had the opportunity to test some of our recipes and present menu items to our advisors. I was really impressed by my Function Managers, who prepared dish after dish of amazing food.” Wow, that sounds terrific! “If HEC weekend goes as well as Function Flow, there's no doubt in my mind that the food for HEC 82 will be the best ever.” Food? I know I’m excited to see what is in store! I am sure the Back-of-House team will not fail to create additional culinary masterpieces for HEC 82.

Our Conference Services Director, Jennifer Jeng, reported, “Function flow was a great chance for us to gain new perspectives on events we have been planning and re-planning for the past 5 months. Our advisors' instrumental feedback helps HEC overcome obstacles as we count down to the best HEC ever.” It certainly is necessary to look ahead, especially for an elaborate event like HEC; good thinking, Jen!

Justin Sun, Human Resources Director, had much to remark about Function Flow. For starters, “Function Flow was very successful this year; I was pleased with the attendance of function managers and board assistants during the event. Although I was not involved with the actual Function Flow presentation, I helped coordinate the photo shoot for function managers in the Guest Guide, and I am very appreciative that everyone showed up at the times that they were expected to show up.” The photos are great; everyone looked so professional with their dark business suits and traditional HEC pins!

Furthermore, Mr. Sun was “was impressed with how positive everyone was about waking up as early as 7 a.m. to prepare for the event. I know that a lot of people were tired and busy, and that they would have rather been anywhere else but Statler on a Saturday morning, but everyone stuck together through the event together as a team. I am grateful for their dedication.” Go teamwork!

As for me, this Valentine’s Day is not proceeding as expected. The snow delayed dinner plans with my Valentine. I think I will instead spend my night inside watching some good movies in accompaniment with some delicious chocolates, hot tea, flannel pajamas, and bear slippers. Tomorrow looks like a great day to go sledding, though!

Have a Beary Happy Valentine’s Day,

Ellsworth

Welcome Back!

2007-02-09T18:04:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow Hotelies! Ellsworth here, updating for the first time during this new and exciting year. I hope you all had an enjoyable time over winter break. My externship in the Caribbean proved to be rewarding! Not only was I able to obtain some time under warm sunrays (despite some painful sunburns!), but I exercised all of my Hotelie knowledge in real industry situations. If any of you Hotelies have not had the opportunity to intern in your projected field of interest, I highly encourage you do so! I was able to make some fantastic friends, many of whom I spoke to about our Hotel Ezra Cornell.

But, alas, I am back in snowy Ithaca. This semester, HEC has a lot in store for all of us Hotelies. The 82nd Hotel Ezra Cornell will take place during the second weekend in April. All Hotelies are invited (and encouraged!) to take part in this memorable experience. Whether you choose to join Jackie Quinlan’s Culinary Team or become a personal concierge, your time commitment is extremely valuable to all attendees of HEC. I am excited about becoming a personal concierge this year because my good friend Alice will be training me. Imagine, meeting industry leaders and Hotel School alumni amongst the brilliant coordination of Hotel School students! I cannot wait for HEC.

On a lighter note, Valentine’s Day is coming up next week. Ordinarily, I am not a big fan of the holiday… It comes across to me as a corny event. However, my viewpoint has changed this year; everything changes when you find someone special with whom you can spend Valentine’s Day. This is my first year I am planning on a Valentine! She is a very dear friend of mine, and I certainly hope she feels the same. I don’t want to mention any names as of right now – I don’t know exactly who may be reading this – but I will tell you I am planning on having a classy dinner at Taverna Banfi to celebrate Valentine’s Day (… as well as the reopening of Taverna Banfi!).

Take care all and I will be in touch.

Bearfully Yours,

Ellsworth

Happy Holidays from Ellsworth

2006-12-03T18:56:00.000-05:00

Hello all! Ellsworth here, reporting in my cheerful holiday mood. I am so excited that classes are over and the end of the semester is nearing. It has been a long semester and I am excited to spend the holiday season with people I have not seen in some time; in addition, I cannot wait to bake some holiday cookies and share them with my favorite people back home. One of my favorite holiday traditions is making baskets of cookies with festive décor and distributing them to my friends and family. Now am I a Hotelie, or what?

In addition, I am looking forward to a winter break externship. This winter, I decided to give up hibernation for an externship in the Caribbean. The externship is a rotational internship that will provide me with a hands-on hotel experience; hitherto, I have not had much hotel experience, other than working for public relations and the Statler. I am excited to learn more about hotel operations; in addition, I could not pass up the opportunity to be warm and wear flip-flops!

The HEC board is excited for break as well. Sara Beveridge, Design Director, is looking forward to “being boring and just going home to Toledo, Ohio for break. Hopefully I will bake lots of cookies and catch up with family and friends, too.” Sounds like she is in store for a very relaxing break after a semester filled with hard work. Tanya Wong, Guest Services Director, will be “spending Christmas in Connecticut with family and New Year's in Montreal with more family and friends. I'm going to relax and catch up with a lot of people I haven't seen in forever.” Colin Thoreen, Procurement Director, is “headed to Costa Rica for a few weeks, then driving from Seattle back to Cornell.” Sounds like an adventure!

I encourage all of you to update me on your winter break plans by leaving me a comment below. It will be interesting to hear what you are all up to over break. I hope you all have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season with lots of fun and relaxation!

Bearably Yours,

Ellsworth

The F&B BOH Team: A Unique Experience

2006-12-03T18:44:00.000-05:00

In this entry, I would like to feature the HEC Food and Beverage Back-of-House (BOH) team. The F&B BOH team is responsible for developing and planning food and beverage functions that fit the framework and requirements of HEC 82. Function managers are working with the FOH and Design teams to organize all elements of F&B events that will take place during the 82nd Hotel Ezra Cornell weekend.

Here is a quote from HEC 82’s executive chef, Liz Longstreet:

“Being in the food and beverage department for HEC is different from any other
experience a student can gain while in college. Every facet of HEC is run by the
students: we create the budgets for each event, we plan the menus, we order the
food, we prepare the food, we have to limit costs to increase our bottom line,
and we manage teams of other talented students in the Hotel School.

HEC has almost every department that a normal hotel or restaurant does and operates similar to other businesses. For anyone who is interested in food and beverage as a career, HEC is the closest an individual can get to seeing the ‘real deal’
before graduation.”

The HEC F&B BOH team is an excellent experience for all Hotelies! I encourage all of your to get involved at some point in time during your career.

Signing Off,

Ellsworth

2006-11-29T23:43:00.000-05:00

The Hotel Show Experience

2006-11-15T20:01:00.000-05:00

I am baaaaaaaaaack!! Exhausted and exhilarated, it’s yours truly, Ellsworth returning from the Hotel Show. This weekend I’ve been swamped with business cards,
hors d’oeuvres, and everything hotels. The Hotel Show weekend was quiet a busy time for the HEC board: it donation time, mini-function flow, dinner with the advisors, and of course the CHS Reception at Bryant Park Grille.

We arrived to the city, fairly early on a Saturday afternoon. While some hotelies ventured out on organized hotel tours, some board members took the afternoon to visit the Chocolate Show. Yum! Ms. Israelson, Ms.Wong and Ms. Killam were mixing business with pleasure, browsing and tasting the endless chocolate offerings for ideas. Ms. Killam was excited about her discovery of single origin chocolate, which is organically done and would tie in nicely with this year’s HEC theme of “Sustainability through Innovation”. Saturday night, some of the board and CHS members gathered at BLVD on Bowery for some mocktails and hotelie mingling.

Sunday morning, I had to be up early and in my fresh-pressed suit for the HEC board mini-function flow. Held in the Millenium Hotel, mini-function flow was an opportunity for the board and HEC advisors to share and collaborate on the beginning sketches of HEC. Hearing from each department, I got the sense that the advisors were happy with the work of the board. After giving his famous “soup speech”, Denis Sweeney was pleased with the creative menu design and Richie Petrina suggested looking into using some organic wine for HEC. After mini-function flow, some boardies headed to the Hotel Show at the Javits Center.

The Hotel Show is something that every hotelie should experience at least once. Frankly, I was a little intimidated at first, afraid that I would get lost between the rows of booths and excited hoteliers at the show. From Turkish bathrobes to Hotel magazine, the Hotel Show featured every in and out of the industry. I was a proud representative at the Hotel School booth, greeting alums and answering questions about HEC and the school for interested passerbys. Each board member took the time to walk around and discuss donations or possible connections for their departments. The HOGS team received a warm reception from our long-time friends at Oneida, Bic, Harney and Sons teas. Mr. Manalili and Ms. Beveridge toured MKG production, which produces parties for the likes of P-Diddy, Janet Jackson for some bar set-up and design ideas. And Ms. Roukalova spoke with representatives from Hotels, Hotel Design, and Lodging Magazine about potential press possibilities. Finally, the future Mrs. Chang was wonderful at staffing the Hotel School booth all-weekend long and promoting HEC.

After a long day at the Hotel Show, the board headed for the advisor dinner at “La Mela” on Mulberry Street. Accompanied with live Italian music, I feasted on antipasto plates, cheese-filled pasta dishes, and scrumptious chicken and shrimp platters. Phew, still I made room for tiramisu and ice-cream. Thank you, Abigail Charpentier for a lovely, lovely dinner.

Finally, on Monday the board once again spent time at the Hotel Show until the CHS Reception. Even though it was raining, the Hotel School alumni community was in good spirits at the reception. Enjoying some wild mushroom stuffed ravioli and figs with blue cheese; I mingled with many familiar faces and of course, personally invited them all to join us for HEC. After a whirlwind evening, I boarded the bus at the Millenium heading back to school. All of us came back with many great ideas from the Hotel Show and re-charged from our trip. Now, it is back to prelim time and getting things in order for Thanksgiving break.

Can’t wait for Turkey Day

Ellsworth

Join HEC Culinary Team!

2006-11-10T18:11:00.000-05:00

The HEC Culinary Team will be having its first meeting on Friday, November 17th at 2:30 PM. The Culinary Team is open to all Hotelies who are interested in cooking and becoming involved in HEC. The Team meets on Friday afternoons in the food labs to cook and assist the back-of-house team with putting together all of the cocktails, brunches, and dinners served during HEC weekend.

Weekly Culinary Team meetings give students an idea of what HEC is all about from the kitchen perspective. The Team will spend the remaining time up until April getting to know the food labs, back-of-house function managers, and testing recipes planned for HEC 82 menu items. No previous culinary experience is necessary; there are jobs for every level of experience. The more Hotelies the merrier!

If you're interested in joining the Culinary Team, please attend its first meeting on November 17 at 2:30 PM in the food labs. The Team will start by baking cookies (who doesn't love cookies?). If you can't make it to the first meeting, just send an e-mail to Jackie Quinlan (jaq3@cornell.edu) and she will add you to the listserv so you can receive information about future meetings. You can also e-mail Jackie or Liz Longstreet (egl5@cornell.edu) with any questions you may have.

We hope to see you there!

A Preview of Coming Attractions: Hotel Show November 10-13, 2006

2006-11-08T18:23:00.000-05:00

Hello! It’s your favorite Ellsworth here reporting about the upcoming Hotel Show. In less than one week, I will be gallivanting around New York City with some of my favorite Hotelies! This upcoming weekend, Friday, November 10th through Monday, November 13th, is the 2006 Cornell Hotel Show. Excited? You bet! I’ve already packed my suitcase, complete with my suit, concept boards, press kit, menus, business cards, guest list, and party money. I can’t wait to mingle with industry leaders, alumni, and fellow Hotelies!

I am excited to dress up in my freshly pressed suit and hear about the ongoing in the industry from fellow hoteliers, as well as distribute press kits made by my fellow public relations team. In addition, I am looking forward to dressing up in some of my spiffy bear clothes and having a cocktail or two, as well as exploring this upbeat city. All in all, I don’t plan on sleeping much at the Hotel Show. With so much to see and do, what Hotelie would want to miss out? With all this mingling, I may even find myself an internship in public relations (what Hotelie can resist hiring a cuddly, fluffy bear?).

To prepare for the Hotel Show, I decided to interview the board members to see what each team will be doing for this eventful weekend. Here are my results!

Guest Services – Tanya Wong

Miss Wong and her fellow board managers will be visiting exhibitors at the Hotel Show to solicit donations from the companies. She plans to visit Mr. David Sank at Oneida, who is “a great and continuous supporter of HEC. [Oneida] donated the plates last year.” In addition, Miss Wong plans to see Mr. Michael Harney from Harney and Sons Teas, “another incredible, annual supporter of HEC.” What a great way to keep in touch! Miss Wong is also excited about the Monday night CHS reception, where she plans to socialize with alumni.

Program Director – Tekla Israelson

Miss Israelson will be attending educational events at the Hotel Show such as "Is Sustainable Attainable?" in order to get insight on what is currently going on in the industry in regards to sustainability. While some departments of HEC have clear goals during Hotel Show, the Program Department is set out to learn as much as it can about holding a large conference.

In addition, Miss Israelson will be attending the Chocolate Show to make contacts and get ideas for the leisure event currently scheduled for Saturday afternoon of HEC. This event is yet to be planned, but will feature a chocolate tasting and demonstration. “The ideas we get from the Chocolate Show will help to shape this event,” she proposes. Mmm, chocolate. Yum!

Food & Beverage Service Director – Karl Manalili

Mr. Manalili will be visiting Food & Beverage related vendors at the Hotel Show to solicit donations. “This will mark my first time visiting the Hotel Show, so I’m excited to experience what it’s all about.” You’re in for a treat, Mr. Manalili! In addition, he will be volunteering to work the HEC booth on Sunday and encourages all Hotelies to stop by. Furthermore, the F&B department will also be holding its Mini Function Flow at Millennium Hotel for industry advisors; this is where a lot of the Board, Function Manager, and Board Assistant’s work will be unveiled. “And finally, I'm excited to top off the weekend with the CHS Reception at the Bryant Park Grille, where I'm sure to find Ellsworth schmoozing and making the rounds.” I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

I hope to see all of my fellow Hotelies at this year’s Hotel Show! It is a great experience for those newcomers, and a mix of fun and memories for all Hotelies alike!

Leaving On a Jet Plane to New York,

Ellsworth

What Should Ellsworth be for Halloween?

2006-10-30T21:57:00.000-05:00

Hello Hotelies! I am inviting you to participate in the first HEC blog contest! The first contest is very simple! Just answer the following question and e-mail your name, class year, and answer to hec@cornell.edu for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Collegetown Bagels.

What should Ellsworth dress up as for Halloween?

One idea per person; Please include a sentence or two explaining your idea and why you picked it. A very easy way to win some food!

Answers are due by midnight on Friday, November 3, 2006. Good luck!

Ellsworth

Sustainability Through Innovation: April 12-15, 2007

2006-10-27T23:08:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow Hotelies! My name is Ellsworth and I am Hotel Ezra Cornell’s teddy bear, as well as your official HEC tour guide throughout the 2006-2007 year. I am excited to be the narrator of the 82nd Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell blog. This year’s HEC is going to be the best ever! Why? Well, let me tell you what we are all about.

HEC will continue to demonstrate the principles established by E. M. Statler’s original “hotel for a day” in 1926: the benefits of hospitality education through showcasing student talents to industry leaders. Our mission is Showcasing Hospitality Education Through Student Leadership. The mission reflects Statler’s original intent of fostering student initiative to showcase the school’s hospitality education that has flourished since ’26.

Furthermore, HEC 82’s vision is to become the Summit of Hospitality Education. The members of HEC foresee the whole industry congregating annually at HEC to keep up-to-date, in addition to being educated by Hotel School students.

Operationally, the 82nd HEC differs much from 81; for one, 82’s board believes we can create an HEC that represents what Cornell Hotel School is all about. In addition, two new board positions have been created to drive our two different trains: our Director of Strategy’s train will ensure our decisions coordinate with this year’s mission and vision and The General Manager’s train will oversee our operation to ensure success.

Below is a little tease of how our invitations will draw guests to attend HEC:

Theme

The theme of HEC 82 originated from the question: what must innovative hospitality organizations do in order to survive and to thrive? We all know that the world is fast changing, and a stagnant organization will soon become a dead organization. What we may not know, however, are the keys to success—the keys to staying alive and relevant as a hospitality organization. At HEC 82, we will find answers. Together, we will figure out how to sustain our organizations through innovation.

Letter from Managing Director

Have you ever wondered why HEC exists? Is it an opportunity for hotelies to mingle and have fun? Is it a time for industry leaders to meet in one place to learn about cutting-edge concepts? Is it a feast of culinary delights to satisfy any palette? Sure, all those things represent past HECs, but the 82nd annual Hotel Ezra Cornell offers a little more, a little better strategic vision—one that focuses on Showcasing Hospitality Education Through Student Leadership.

Imagine Sir Richard Branson and our students inspiring our industry to create a greener global environment for years to come. Imagine investing in—and profiting from—innovative business plans from future leaders and entrepreneurs of our industry. Imagine learning how the SVP of Westin Hotels and Resorts collaborated with hotelies to develop new ways to brand a company. Imagine enjoying a newly restructured Friday night banquet, where a few more surprises are in store for you…

At the 82nd annual Hotel Ezra Cornell, you can take all those imaginations and turn them into reality. We invite you to join our quest to be the Summit of Hospitality Education. To make a great dream come true, one must first have a great dream. We have created a dream of Sustainability Through Innovation—you can help us make it come true…

So, what have I been up to recently? October 14th marked the annual HEC homecoming tailgate. That meant three of my favorite things: football, food, and Hotelies! Of course, I could not miss any of it. The day commenced with a congregation of very cold HEC members setting up tables to display multitudes of food, Hotel School gear, and hot apple cider. Although our tents initially blew over due to Ithacan winds that morning, we all survived. Red and white helium balloons floated overhead, greeting swarms of Hotelies, alumni, and faculty members. I mingled from person to person, hanging around Dean Johnson, Mr. Adie, the Big Red Bear, and various Hotelies.

Each Hotelie with whom I spoke graciously offered me samples of tailgate food; I sampled a variety of festive homecoming food, including orzo salad, beef brisket, jalapeno cornbread, flatbread pizza, festively colored Cornell sugar cookies and rice krispies. Some Hotelies decided to instruct me on back of the house operations – unfortunately I got a bit too excited about the pizza on the grill and burned my bear skin. Ouch!

Dean Johnson later remarked, “If you want a hot dog, go to the alumni tent, but if you want brisket, got to the Hotelie tent!” Tailgate was certainly a colorful event; I hope all of you were able to make. But, in case you missed out, one of my next adventures will be hitting up New York City for the Hotel Show on November 11th! The city will be a busy time for me, from commissioning donations at the Hotel Show to supervising Mini- Function Flow I am on a packed schedule. Of course, I am looking forward to the Monday night reception at Bryant Park Grille, a night of delicious food, cocktails, and hotelie mingling. Hope to see you there!

Cordially,

Ellsworth

P.S. I cannot leave you without posting some pictures.

Ouch! That grill hurt!

I was afraid the big bear would bite me!