Academics

Welcome Cocktail

5:30PM - 7:30PM

Dean Michael Johnson and HEC Managing Director Geoffrey Gray ‘08 will kick off the 83rd Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell at this event.  Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the ballroom as we invite you to take a break after your travels and unwind while the weekend begins.

HEC Afterglow

10:00PM – 1:00AM

If you are looking for a place to meet up after dinner on Thursday, please join us in the Regent Lounge for the HEC Afterglow.  Mixologist Charlotte Boisey will join our student bartenders in mixing up some great drinks in a fun atmosphere.

Setting the Scene: Industry Update

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Join us as we kick off the conference program with three dynamic
panelists from PKF Consulting, Smith Travel Research, and Y Partnership.  These leaders will share their opinions on the industry’s present state and explore future trends we can expect to see.

Presentation Available: STR Industry Overview

Presentation Available: PKF Consulting U.S. Lodging Horizon 2008

The Continual Evolution of Equity

10:15AM – 11:30AM

Come listen to our panel of five experts talk about the state of the hospitality investment environment.  In the past, liquidity in the credit markets led to enormous interest in hospitality investments from private equity groups.  How was the hospitality industry affected by the division of ownership and operations?  More importantly, with financial circumstances changing, how will the industry be impacted moving forward?

Presentation Available: The Hospitality Investment - Private Equity

The Third Annual HEC Concept Fair

12:00PM – 1:15PM

The Student Business Concept Fair showcases the best business
concepts developed by teams of undergraduate and graduate Hotel School students from a variety of classes. We invite you to visit the exhibition and get to know the teams as they share their ideas with you. Then, “write a check” to invest in your favorites! The winning teams will be awarded for their hard work and ingenuity.

Latin Honors Thesis – Student Research Symposium

2:00PM – 2:45PM & 3:00PM – 3:45PM

Come, listen, and question two of Cornell Hotel School’s brightest
students as they present and defend their Honors Thesis. As part of the recently initiated Latin Honors Thesis program, these two seniors have spent the past year working hard at researching, analyzing, and developing their topics into sophisticated thesis.  At this presentation, you will be the first to hear about their findings.

ADR’s: Global Effect?

While many travelers enjoy the weak US dollar, how does the dollar’s exchange really affect the hospitality industry? Listen to Liya Ma speak about the responsiveness of Average Daily Rates to the changes in exchange rates throughout the world. How does a weak or strong US dollar really affect other countries and the prices they have set?

Terrorism Reactions

In recent years, terrorist activity has played an interesting role in the hospitality industry globally. Ying Ying Zeng researches the reaction of a hotel’s stock versus what happens to the actual property after a terrorist attack. How does the reaction affect their operation? Do people still want to invest in these companies?

The Olympic Impact

2:15PM – 3:30PM

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are mere months away, and the whole country is atwitter with anticipation.  But how does The Olympics impact the hospitality industries in host cities? This group of panelists will explore issues relating to how The Olympics impacts our industry.

Lodging Derivatives: What’s That?

3:00PM – 3:45PM

Come take advantage of this unique opportunity as The Hotel School’s very own Professor Daniel Quan talks about the development of indexes especially tailored for the hospitality industry.  Historically, real estate indexes have been unable to reflect the special qualities of the hospitality industry.  However, through the use of lodging statistics gathered by Smith Travel Research, it is possible to develop a more appropriate tool.

A Night in New Orleans

7:00PM – 9:00PM

A Taste of Italy

7:00PM – 9:00PM

Relax at this Friday night dinner and enjoy some of the best things that you would find in Italy – food, wine, and friends.  With the rustic Tuscan décor of Taverna Banfi and a menu that is rooted in traditional Italian ingredients, you will surely experience a wonderful taste of Italy here at Hotel Ezra Cornell.

After-Dinner Cocktail at Sage Atrium

9:15PM – 11:30PM

Join us across the street from the Hotel School on Friday night to indulge in fine chocolates, desserts, and drinks in the beautiful Sage Atrium at The Johnson School.  Sage Atrium, designed by Cornell’s first architecture professor, is a wonderful and unique space that will certainly provide a magnificent end to your day.

Power Sleep

9:00AM – 10:00AM

Professor James Maas will give a presentation about the importance of sleep.  He will also showcase his book Power Sleep and explain the effects of sleep deprivation on the body and on quality of life.  Come and listen as he explains sleep patterns and gives advice to help people improve their sleep.

Interactive Lessons

9:30AM – 11:30AM

Want to learn about Microsoft Office 2007?  Having trouble with that pesky Word template?  Stop by for a 30-minute tutorial or a one-on-one troubleshooting session with Hotel School student teaching assistants and leave with cutting edge Microsoft Office concepts and skills.  The interactive drop-in lessons will improve your computer literacy and give you a chance to familiarize yourself with 2007 and its plethora of capabilities.  A variety of lessons will be offered throughout the day for the complete spectrum of computer skills.  The one-on-one will allow you to quickly address specific concerns.  Bring your laptop or use our state of the art facilities.

Hospitality in Emerging Markets

10:15AM – 11:30AM

Development in India and China is front and center on the hospitality scene but what about the hospitality industries in other emerging
markets like Latin America, South Africa, and The UAE?  This panel will bring representatives together from the four corners of the earth to exchange views on hospitality development.

Dean’s Brunch

11:00AM – 1:00PM

Dean Michael Johnson invites you to join him at this brunch on Saturday, which features a wide array of breakfast and lunch items, pastries, and desserts.  Treat yourself to the sumptuous selections of food and the fresh ambiance of the Terrace Restaurant.

5th Annual Culinary Mystery Box

2:00PM – 5:00PM

This is an iron-chef style competition where eight teams of four guests and one student culinary teaching assistant will create a series of dishes using mystery ingredients.  A professional mixologist will also be present at the competition to help teams pair the perfect cocktail with their creative meals.

Wine Tasting

2:00PM – 3:00PM

Courtney Cochran will give a presentation about wine and wine pairing.  She will then lead a five wine tasting.  The wines are all centered on the theme “Hip New Tastes” because the wines are from unconventional regions: Greece, Tasmania, Brazil, Finger Lakes, and Lake County, CA.

Honey Tasting

3:45PM – 4:45PM

Third generation beekeeper, Glenn Card, will give you an exclusive look at the mysterious world of beekeeping and honey making.  This experience is capped with the opportunity to taste different honey varietals harvested by Mr. Card’s family business, Merrimack Valley Apiaries.  The honey will also be paired with a variety of teas from Harney & Sons.

Gala Banquet

7:00PM – 9:30PM

On Saturday evening, we will celebrate student achievements at the pinnacle of the entire conference – the HEC Gala.  Kirk Kelewae ’08 will prepare this evening’s menu, featuring traditional ingredients utilized in unique ways.  This dinner will intrigue and delight your
palate and allow you to see the great accomplishments of our Hotel School students.

Closing Cocktail

9:30PM – 11:00PM

Guests, students, and faculty will join together to celebrate the end of a memorable weekend by reminiscing, relaxing, and rousing the senses.  Enjoy artwork, friends, and exciting desserts and drinks as we wrap up another “Best Ever” HEC weekend.