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OHIO students interested in careers in the restaurant, hospitality and tourism industries had the opportunity to attend an immersive trip to gain insight into the field. The cohort of students experienced a behind-the-scenes look at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Columbus, located in the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The experience was led by the Career Achievement Network in collaboration with the faculty of the restaurant, hospitality, and tourism major at the Patton College of Education.

鈥淭hey got an opportunity to really engage with the professionals that lead the perspective departments within the facility,鈥� said Assistant Director of Career and Employer Engagement in the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning and two-time OHIO alumni Marcquis Parham.

Students were able to tour a variety of Hyatt鈥檚 departments within the facility, including Human Resources, Front Desk Operations, Housekeeping, Special Events, Maintenance, and Culinary. 
 

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Following an interactive question-and-answer panel with the professionals leading such departments, students were given scenarios created by Hyatt based off real-life situations that they would encounter at their current location.

鈥淭he students were broken into small groups, and they were given case studies,鈥� Parham explained. 鈥淭hey were given problems, and provided a certain amount of time to work on the issue and then present to the professionals that work and lead those departments in regard to what their solutions were. The professionals were able to give them feedback and insight on the positives and negatives of their presentation and of their solutions."

This exercise allowed students to explore an issue, collaborate with one another on how to address the situation, and receive professional feedback on their solutions. Following the trip, students in the restaurant, hospitality and tourism program took away a deeper understanding of the career options in their industry.

"The Hyatt Regency trip was a phenomenal experience from top to bottom," reflected OHIO student Trenton Grandy. "It was a unique opportunity for us students to get to engage with industry professionals and inquire about their day-to-day professional lives. It was insightful to see an operation of that size and the various departments that make it run. The management staff could not have been more accommodating, and it was so kind of them to spend their entire Friday with us. I'm speaking for more than just myself when I say that we all had a fantastic time."

The Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning (ACE) and the Career Network provide an innovative and creative approach to connecting Bobcats to employers and alumni.