By Jeff Zbar  – Correspondent, South Florida Business Journal Jun 21, 2018 In the last 18 months, Bill Talbert and his team at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau have endured a host of “headwinds” that might have created serious challenges for other travel spots. The Miami Beach Convention Center closed for a six-month “blackout” period during its $600 million renovation and expansion. Travel from Brazil, among Miami’s largest feeder markets, fell 26 percent. The Zika virus scared off travelers, and Hurricane... Watch video and read full article here

Hospitality Alumni Reception in Orlando, FL September 7, 2018, The Grove Resort & Spa, Orlando, FL 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sponsor: Humberto “Burt” Cabanas ’76, Chairman, Benchmark Hospitality International For more information or to RSVP, please contact dean Rocco Angelo at 305.919.4515 or angelor@fiu.edu Hospitality Alumni Reception in Miami October 22, 2018, Fontainebleau Miami Beach (Scarpetta Terrace) 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sponsor: Phil Goldfarb '79, President and COO, Fontainebleau Miami Beach For more information or to RSVP, please contact dean Rocco Angelo at 305.919.4515 or angelor@fiu.edu Hospitality Alumni Reception in NYC November 11, 2018, Royalton Park Avenue Hotel, New York City 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sponsor: Highgate Royalton Park Avenue Hotel Special thanks to: Mahmood Khimji, President, Highgate Holdings, Inc. With appreciation: Jan Rozenveld '90 MS '91, Sr VP Lifestyle Hotels at Highgate Jay Litt '73, The Litt Group For more information or to RSVP, please contact dean Rocco Angelo at 305.919.4515 or angelor@fiu.edu __ For additional information and events, visit the events calendar page.

The Career Closet at the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Career Development Program was established in spring 2018, thanks to the generosity of Lani Kane-Hanan ’87 MS ’04. Lani is Executive Vice President, Resort Development, Revenue & Inventory Management and Product Innovation at Marriott Vacations Worldwide and currently serves as chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Chaplin School. FIU hospitality students are able to take one outfit per academic year free of charge. Hospitality senior Krystal Roman recently made use of the career closet as she prepared for an internship interview with Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. Here is a Q&A with Krystal. Why did you use the career closet? I used the career closet because I did not have anything to wear due to my pregnancy. Where is the internship, and what will you be assigned to do? The internship is at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits in Miramar. I will be working with the sales team, visiting different clients or accounts. When will the internship take place and for how long? The internship began on May 21st until mid-August, about three months. What is your major?When do you expect to graduate? Major is Hospitality Management with a focus in Beverage Management. I expect to graduate December 2018. How did you get the internship? I heard about this internship from the Chaplin School’s Career Development Office. Lourdes Torres, one of the career advisors, guided me along the process. The office kept me up to date with postings and any new and upcoming internships opportunities in the Beverage Industry. Why did you choose this internship? I chose this internship because it is the internship of my dreams! I have always hoped and aspired [...]