President Rosenberg Blogs from China
This is President Rosenberg’s sixth annual blog chronicling the TUC-FIU partnership, the annual China Commencement and our students in the China program. Read More
Worlds Ahead Graduate Recognized at Spring 2015 Commencement Ceremony
When Stephanie was in second grade, she struggled heavily with a mild form of dyslexia. Throughout her years in elementary school, her dyslexia held her back from excelling academically and from feeling accepted. After a teacher told her parents that their daughter should not pursue higher education, Stephanie’s mission was to prove everyone wrong. She transferred to the International School of Curaçao and overcame the challenges posed by being dyslexic through fearless determination, hard work, and ambition. In Fall 2012, she became a student at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. She immediately became involved in student leadership activities and took advantage of the many opportunities for academic and professional development. In May 2013, Stephanie was the only freshman to join a team of eight hospitality management students for an eight-week summer internship program in the gaming capital of the world, Macau. A few months after her return to the United States, Stephanie helped to reinstate the collegiate chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) in South Florida. She was the president of the chapter for two years and did a great job increasing awareness among the student body. As a result, Stephanie was invited to join the Hospitality Student Leadership Council managed by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Career Development Program at the Chaplin School. Currently, Stephanie is the co-chair of the council and proudly serves as a peer mentor in the program's Peer Mentoring Program. Besides being a full-time student involved in many extracurricular activities, Stephanie is completing a second internship with a Miami–based company that manages large entertainment events. In February 2015, she was a lead associate during the Food Network & Cooking Channel [...]
Sandals Resorts’ CEO Adam Stewart Delivers All-Inclusive Experience
Chaplin School alumnus and CEO of Sandals Resorts Adam Stewart '03 was interviewed to discuss his take on the all-inclusive guest experience in the Caribbean. Read More Photo: FIU hospitality alumnus Adam Stewart being presented with a Torch Award at the 10th annual event with FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg and Chaplin School's Rocco Angelo
Chaplin Professor Receives Award for Co-Authored Paper
During the Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Association annual conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Eunju Suh and co-author Matt Alhaery received the Best-Paper, Founding President Award for their collaborative research “Improving Customer Retention in the Gaming Industry with the Application of Decision Tree Classifiers." The paper focuses on preventing the loss of gaming patrons to other casinos. The study explored various data-mining methods to develop predictive models for churn prediction and explains how to identify potential churners and develop effective ways to target them to ensure their continued gaming and visits to the casino. This is the second time within a year that Dr. Suh receives such accolade for her work. She received another best-paper award at the Asia Pacific Tourism Association annual conference in July 2014. For more info about the conference and the award, please visit kahtea.org. Photo: FIU hospitality professor Eunju Suh.
Chaplin School Classroom Technology Sets the Standard at Industry Conferences
The Chaplin School is increasingly expanding its distance learning capabilities to meet the growing demand for educational opportunities worldwide. Video-conferencing technology, among other tools, is dramatically enhancing and redefining teaching and learning. Employing the latest cutting-edge technology, the Chaplin School has created what could be called global learning spaces in some of its classrooms and laboratories. Dale Gomez, director of information technology, recently delivered two presentations highlighting the opportunities and challenges of creating a world-class global learning facility at FIU’s Chaplin School. During the 34th International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) Americas Annual Conference on April 14-17 in Miami, Gomez highlighted collaborative educational trends that accommodate the need to support standard business presentations. Trends discussed included B.Y.O.D. (bring your own device), collaboration platforms, lecture capture, on-demand serving, and the blending of AV and IT staff to meet needs and responsibilities. At the United States Distance Learning Association’s (USDLA) 2015 National Conference, held from April 26-29 in St. Louis, Missouri, Gomez demonstrated the use of video conferencing and virtual hands with the Myo Armband. Photo: FIU hospitality director of information technology Dale Gomez presenting at the USDLA 2015 National Conference. During the USDLA conference, Judith Williams, Chaplin chef instructor, connected with the USDLA audience live from the Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory to demonstrate ways to optimize revenue in the hospitality industry through creative food presentations.
Father and Son Alumni Share Successful Conglomerate of Hospitality Businesses in The Netherlands
Alexander Claus ’10 (left) and Leo Claus ’76 (right) stand in front of their new Casino Admiral, which open its doors this month. Over the years the family business has grown to include ownership of a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, banquet/conference center, multiple restaurants, and a bowling center. “We would have never realized such a successful company without my FIU knowledge and Florida experience. Great school, great professors and lots of sunshine," said Leo. Learn More Photo: FIU hospitality graduates Alexander and Leo Claus in front of the new Casino at Claus Park Collection.
Students Receive Lee Brian Schrager Excellence in Leadership Awards for Volunteerism
The Chaplin School recently awarded the Lee Brian Schrager Excellence in Leadership Awards to three dedicated hospitality management students. The annual scholarships were created five years ago by Southern Wine and Spirits, in honor of Mr. Schrager’s leadership and dedication to the Chaplin School. Michelle Diaz, Lori Siegel, and Kathy Fernandez (pictured from left to right), committed a tremendous amount of time volunteering at the 2015 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE and were recognized at a gathering in the School's Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Lab. Each student received a $5,000 scholarship. Michelle Diaz Excellence in Leadership Award for Culinary Management Festival Responsibilities Served as FIU Chef Michael Moran’s teaching assistant Volunteered over 90 hours managing nearly 10 booths, prepping for all the North Venue events, and pre-planning Aspirations "My plan is to one day own and manage a restaurant of my own. For now, I’m going to continue to cook great food with Chef Moran, get good grades, and keep working hard so I don’t have to later on." Lori Siegel Excellence in Leadership Award for Beverage Management Festival Responsibilities Manage front of the house Al Fresco Feast Worked closely with Professor Hebrank Aspirations "Aspirations for the future have been greatly influenced by the Wine of the New World class I am taking with Professor Hebrank. I would like to continue to explore my options in the wine industry for the future." Kathy Fernandez Excellence in Leadership Award for Special Events Festival Responsibilities 2015 – Human Resources Coordinator working alongside the Festival’s event managers to recruit, hire, and train the over 1,200 students; during the Festival, served as on-site coordinator for the Grand Tasting Village 2014 – Committee Assistant for Fun and Fit as [...]
Powerful Impressions: Institute’s Culinary Arts Academy Student to Begin Academic Career at FIU
When Price Destinobles made the decision to apply to the Chaplin School's Institute for Hospitality & Tourism Education & Research's (IHTER) Culinary Arts Academy last fall, it was the result of his high school culinary arts teacher's urging. As a senior at North Miami Senior High School, Price and his teacher, Andre Franks, knew that he wanted to have a career that centered around food, but challenges in Price's young life made the path to his ultimate career goal uncertain. As a student in the Miami-Dade County Public School System, Price has been enrolled in the homeless assistance program (HAP), Project UP-START, which provides support and resources to homeless students in the district. While he had some support from extended family members and HAP, Price has, at one point, had to work two jobs to support himself. Never having a real-life example of what positive directions to take after high school, he knew that attending college was his only option. "Price took his background and made a decision to take a different route. His background has propelled him to strive for success," Mr. Franks said. Even while dealing with challenges out of the classroom, Price remained focused. He currently serves as president of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project chapter for his school, plays basketball, and has participated in volleyball, ran cross country, and was also a member of the school's culinary club. Price's first encounter with FIU was with advisor Kaleena Salgueiro who was at his high school on a recruitment visit. "As she spoke, I listened and soaked everything she said in," Price recalls. Samantha Dahlia, program manager of the Culinary Arts Academy, was the next person he spoke with. She interviewed him for [...]
Hospitality Students Attend the Young Hoteliers Summit in Switzerland
Two Chaplin students participated in The Young Hoteliers Summit at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland in March. Seniors Stephanie van Romondt and Christopher Gonzalez Jacobo were presented with the challenge of designing a hotel organizational network that embraces disruption. Only 30 of the top hospitality schools from around the globe are invited to this exclusive event. The Chaplin School has been invited ever since the conference began meeting six years ago and has attended four times.
Chaplin Professor and Student Win Best Paper Award at International Business Conference
The International Interdisciplinary Business-Economics Advancement Conference brought together academics from business, social sciences, and tourism/hospitality for workshops, presentations and networking. Dr. Carolin Lusby, a Chaplin School faculty member, presented two papers and also gave attendees a short overview of Belize, its tourism industry, and issues Belize faces in terms of economic and tourism development. Dr. Lusby and graduate student Lindsay Ackerman earned the best paper award for their presentation on consumer perceptions of cruise line sustainability. The paper gauged how important sustainability is to consumers when booking a cruise. Further work will hopefully help cruise lines to become more sustainable in the future, not just economically, but also environmentally and socioculturally.
