New England Hospitality Leaders Give Back to the Next Generation at the HSMAI Collegiate Hospitality Forum

New England Hospitality College Students learned and networked at the 3rd annual student conference presented by the New England Chapter of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and sponsored by ARAMARK Harrison Lodging.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 9, 2005 -- Business leaders representing hotels, conference centers, tourism destinations, and attractions converged on Babson Executive Conference Center on the campus of Babson College in Babson Park (Wellesley), Massachusetts on October 21st to meet with New England hospitality students at the 3rd Annual Collegiate Hospitality Forum. The forum is an annual event organized by the New England Chapter of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). This year’s corporate sponsor was ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, who manages the Babson Executive Conference Center.

Students who attended the event represented some of New England’s leading hospitality colleges and universities including: UMASS Amherst, Johnson & Wales University, Southern New Hampshire University, Newbury College, Lasell College, Becker College, Bunker Hill Community College, Endicott College, and Middlesex Community College. Students found that the conference gave them a better understanding of the hospitality industry and allowed them to make contacts in the industry.

The conference began with Jeff Weggeman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing from ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, the Keynote Speaker. He energized the audience by talking about what it takes to succeed in today’s hospitality industry. That presentation was followed by seminars given by David Boggs, President & CEO of ACRO Global; Joe Davis, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Ritz Carlton Boston Commons; Chris Gasbarro, National Sales Director, Party by Design; and Thomas Stohr, General Manager, RainForest Café – Burlington, MA.

The afternoon was filled with a mini career/job fair and roundtable discussions. Attending were: Kerri Tonino, Langham Hotel Boston, Gina Trelle and Shirley Fitzpatrick, Hilton Family of Hotels – Boston; Meghan Cassady, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging; Heather Bunzel, Babson Executive Conference Center; Judie Akerman, Cayman Island Department of Tourism; Tom Bolman, International Association of Conference Centers; Janice Dunne, Babson Executive Conference Center; Della Green, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors’ Bureau; Jim Healy, Boston Duck Tours; Peggy Kennedy, Hyatt Harborside Hotel Boston; Jennifer Nelson & Adrienne Priore, Nine Zero Hotel Boston; and Joe Rogan, Hotel-Intel.com, LLC.

For more information on the Collegiate Hospitality Forum, including photos, or the New England Chapter of HSMAI, please contact Julie Parent at (888) 792-9770 or via email at: NEHSMAI@jewelcomp.com.

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