Academics
Program
| Thursday, April 2, 2009 |
An Evening at Club HEC 5:30PM - 6:30PM Begin your weekend by joining us in the Carrier Ballroom for cocktails and fun hors d’oeuvres in a sleek and modern nightclub atmosphere. Enjoy opening remarks from Dean and E.M. Statler Professor Michael Johnson and HEC Managing Director Kira Gailey ’09 before going out to dinner with friends. Welcome to HEC! |
The HEC Afterglow 10:00PM - 1:00AM Join us in the Regent Lounge for card games, gourmet snacks, and stiff drinks, after a long day of travel. Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones while enjoying the relaxing, candle-lit atmosphere. There’s no better place to unwind than at the HEC Afterglow! |
| Friday, April 3, 2009 |
An Italian Bistro Breakfast 7:00AM - 9:00AM Enjoy an Italian-inspired breakfast buffet before attending the day’s events. Bright flowers, great food, and attentive service are sure to be a great start to your day. |
Las Vegas: Past to Present 8:30AM - 9:45AM How does Las Vegas’ rich history influence the current market climate? Marc Falcone ’95 (Goldman, Sachs & Co.), a leading hospitality and leisure industry analyst, overviews the history of Las Vegas. Falcone will also speak on the deep connections between Wall Street and Las Vegas. Click here for a recap of Las Vegas: Past to Present. Click here to see a video of Las Vegas: Past to Present. |
Gary Loveman: The Las Vegas Perspective 10:00AM - 11:30AM Dr. Gary Loveman (CEO, President, Chairman - Harrah’s Entertainment) delivers a keynote address on success on the Las Vegas strip, the place of academia in Las Vegas. Since being named CEO in January 2003, Loveman has overseen Harrah's June 2005 acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and Harrah's privatization in a $30.7 billion transaction. Loveman has earned the distinction of being recognized as the gaming and lodging industry's best CEO by Institutional Investor magazine for four consecutive years. Click here to learn more about Gary Loveman. Click here for a recap of Gary Loveman: The Las Vegas Perspective. Click here to see a video of Gary Loveman: The Las Vegas Perspective. |
Power Lunch 11:30AM - 1:00PM Come for a quick lunch in the Park Atrium between the day’s happenings. Our European-inspired menu and modern design elements will make an excellent break to your day. |
Isadore Sharp: Luxury in Las Vegas 1:00PM - 2:00PM Four Seasons, Las Vegas was the beginning of Las Vegas’ love affair with luxury. Industry legend Isadore Sharp (Founder, CEO, Chairman – Four Seasons Hotel Company) will speak on the evolution of luxury in Las Vegas. Four Seasons is considered among the finest luxury hotels worldwide, according to Travel + Leisure magazine and Zagat Survey, and operates 78 hotels in 32 countries including 22 AAA Five-Diamond properties. Click here to learn more about Isadore Sharp. Click here for a recap of Isadore Sharp: Luxury in Las Vegas. Click here to see a video of Isadore Sharp: Luxury in Las Vegas. |
Developing Las Vegas 2:15PM - 3:45PM Is Las Vegas over-developed? Bob Boughner (CEO and President – Echelon Place) will present on the trials and tribulations of developing Las Vegas in today’s market. Echelon Place is a $4 billion development whose construction has currently been suspended. Bob Boughner is also the interim President and CEO of Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City. Click here to learn more about Bob Boughner. |
CHS General Meeting 4:00PM - 5:30PM All Alumni are invited to attend the Cornell Hotel Society Bi-Annual General Meeting. |
Pre-Dinner Cocktail 6:00PM - 7:00PM Walk through the history of Las Vegas as you enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before dinner. Choose from our raw bar, spoon display, or fruit and cheese to whet your appetite before sitting down for a delicious meal. |
Las Vegas in the 21st Century 7:00PM - 9:00PM Enjoy modern décor inspired by current Las Vegas attractions such as Cirque du Soleil and The MGM Mirage as your dinner is served. Contemporary Italian cuisine is featured in this Carrier Ballroom dinner. |
A Night in Historic Las Vegas 7:00PM - 9:00PM For something different from dinner in the Carrier Ballroom, join us in Taverna Banfi for a banquet set in historic Las Vegas. View your menu on a deck of cards, enjoy live music, and be transported back in time to a previous era of Las Vegas. |
Hotel Ezra Casino 9:00PM - 11:30PM Enjoy an evening of excitement after the Gala at Hotel Ezra Casino. Hit the Blackjack tables or join a Poker game. Don't gamble? Then enjoy cocktails and delicious desserts with great company. The evening will culminate with an auction full of fantastic prizes. |
| Saturday, April 4, 2009 |
A Morning in the Garden 7:30AM - 9:30AM Start your day with a buffet breakfast in our “outdoor” garden, featuring a coffee & tea bar with assorted breads and pastries, along with traditional breakfast fare. |
Brad Stone: The Future of the Industry 9:00AM - 10:00AM Where is the gaming industry headed? How did Las Vegas influence the development of the gaming industry? Brad Stone ’77 (President of Global Operations and Construction – Las Vegas Sands Co.) delivers a keynote on the future of the casino and gaming industry. Since joining Las Vegas Sands, Mr. Stone has helped design, construct, and operate some of the world’s most recognized casino resort properties, including 4,027-suite Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Venezia Tower (a hotel within The Venetian) and The Palazzo in Las Vegas. He also oversaw the development of the Venetian Macao, a $2.4 billion, 10.5 million square-foot facility that has been dubbed the largest hotel in the world. Click here to learn more about Brad Stone. Click here for a recap of Brad Stone: The Future of the Industry. |
Only in Vegas: Operating a Mega Destination 10:15AM - 11:45AM What does it take to be an operations executive in Las Vegas? Panelists will discuss the challenges of operating all facets of the world’s most popular destination. Panelists include:
Click here to see a video of Only in Vegas: Operating a Mega Destination. |
Spa Lunch 11:45AM - 1:45PM This year’s Dean’s Lunch will feature a spa-inspired menu with plated courses. Our warm and relaxing garden atmosphere will truly give your dining experience the spa treatment! |
Latin Honor's Thesis - Student Research Symposium 11:45AM - 1:45PM Come, listen, and question ten of Cornell Hotel School’s brightest academic students as they present and defend their Honors Thesis. As part of the recently initiated Latin Honors Thesis program, these seniors have spent the past year researching, analyzing, and developing their topics into sophisticated theses. Symposiums will consist of a short presentation by the Latin Honors Thesis candidate, followed by significant time for discussion. Click here for a recap of the Latin Honor's Thesis-Student Research Symposium. |
The Las Vegas Restaurant World 1:30PM - 2:45PM What does the landscape of food and beverage in Las Vegas look like today? What trends are emerging? What makes the Las Vegas restaurant industry unique? Panelists on the forefront of this fast-paced Las Vegas inner community will discuss the past, present, and future of the food and beverage industry in Las Vegas. Panelists include:
Click here to see a video of The Las Vegas Restaurant World. |
The 6th Annual Culinary Mystery Box 1:45PM - 4:45PM Have you ever wanted to be on top chef? Twenty guests will compete against each other in an “Iron Chef” like competition to create dishes using a mystery ingredient. Top faculty and students from The Hotel School’s culinary department and panelists from the prior “Las Vegas Restaurant Industry” event to attend. Click here for a recap of The 6th Annual Culinary Mystery Box. |
Wynn Resorts: Back to Basics 3:00PM - 4:00PM How does Steve Wynn infuse his business with life? What is the “Wynn Personality.” Hear Tom Breitling (Senior Vice President, Strategy and Development) speak on what makes Steve Wynn differ from the rest and offer “inside the boardroom” details on Wynn Resorts. Click here for a recap of Wynn Resorts: Back to Basics. |
Deductive Wine Tasting Lesson by Greg Harrington 4:15PM - 5:15PM Greg Harrington ’92 (Owner – Gramercy Cellars) is known for being the youngest Master Sommelier in the world. Let him teach you how to blindly taste a wine and identify the grape variety, the country of origin, the region of origin, the appellation, the vintage and even the producer. |
Pre-Gala Cocktail 6:00PM - 7:00PM Mingle with friends and new acquaintances at our festive cocktail before attending the Gala Banquet. Experience modern, inventive hors d’oeuvres with an array of cocktails as you begin your final night at Hotel Ezra Cornell. |
The Gala Banquet 7:00PM - 9:30PM Prepare yourselves for an amazing experience at the Gala Banquet, as this event will convince you that HEC 84 is absolutely “the best ever.” A menu influenced by molecular gastronomy, an illuminating design, and impeccable service will be accompanied by the announcement of prestigious Hotel School award recipients and closing remarks by our Managing Director. |
Breakfast at Midnight 9:30PM - 11:30PM Come to our final cocktail for a fond farewell and enjoy entertaining desserts with student volunteers. With Belgian waffles and mini-pancakes, this will surely be a good-bye to remember! |