Project Description
Austin LaPoten
Austin LaPoten B.S. ’14 was one of two students who was accepted into the Sofitel School of Excellence Management Training Program. He will spend one year at the Sofitel Munich Bayerpost property in Munich, Germany beginning in August 2014.
While earning his Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality management, Austin worked full time at the Mandarin Oriental before moving to the St. Regis Bal Harbour. When asked why he chose a career in hospitality, Austin said, “I enjoy being around people and making them happy. I speak English, Spanish, German and spent extensive time living in foreign countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Argentina. I enjoy being able to meet people every day from all over the globe. I believe a career in hospitality plays to my strengths and also opens up many opportunities all over the world.”
In his new role at the Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Austin will spend six months rotating through different management positions in the hotel and intends to focus his last six months in a specialization in sales and marketing. The program accepts 30 students worldwide every year, two from each of 15 top hospitality schools worldwide. The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is recognized as one of the top schools.
Reflecting on his time at the Chaplin School, Austin recognized Lourdes Gomez from the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Career Development Program and Dean Rocco Angelo as his mentors.
“Lourdes has been invaluable in my search for a management training program as well as for other great opportunities such as representing the Chaplin School at the Young Hoteliers Summit (YHS) at the École hôtelière de Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland,” Austin said. “Dean Angelo personally selected me for the YHS Summit and attended it with me. It was a great experience to be there with some of the most talented hospitality students in the world. He is extremely knowledgeable and accessible. I know I can contact him if I have any industry questions and he would be happy to help,” he added.
In the short term, Austin hopes to receive a management offer to stay with Sofitel in Germany upon completion of the program. His long term goals include becoming a general manager at a luxury hotel and pursuing graduate studies to earn an MBA.
“Austin has many things he would like to accomplish in the hospitality industry, and anyone who has the pleasure of working with him will not be disappointed,” Lourdes Gomez said.
Join employers like Sofitel, Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons, and Kerzner International and train the next generation of hospitality management professionals. Employers can partner with the Chaplin School’s J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Career Development Program by requesting an on-campus visit to recruit, give a presentation, or mentor students. Off-campus visits can also be arranged.
