Rod Stoner, retired hotel executive; Frank DeMarco and Dr. Ajay Aluri, who head the program at the WVU College of Business and Economics; Tom Heywood, master of ceremonies for the awards event; and Frank Jorgensen, WVHTA chairman at the 8th Annual Hospitality University conference.
Just four years after its creation, West Virginia University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program is receiving national and state accolades for furthering the professionalism of the tourism industry through education and training.
The program in the College of Business and Economics was presented with the Excellence in Tourism Education Award at the 8th Annual Hospitality University conference at the Greenbrier Jan. 29.
The award was presented to Frank DeMarco, teaching associate professor and program coordinator, and Dr. Ajay Aluri, assistant professor in the program, by retired hotel executive Rod Stoner, who also serves on the WVU Hospitality and Tourism Management Advisory Council.
“The success of this program is demonstrated by the successes of its students,” Stoner said. “The program has grown because of the partnerships it has developed with the hospitality industry, and its next step of integrating innovation and technology for the future growth of this industry is a huge one.”
Student enrollment in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program has multiplied by 10 since its inception, but that is just one of several signs of growth. A B&E student team from the program who captured first place in the international 2017 STR Student Market Study Competition at HX: The Hotel Experience conference in New York City this past November.
“We’re seeing real growth in this program,” said B&E Milan Puskar Dean Javier Reyes, “and that is attributable to a number of factors. For example, we have been steadfast in our belief that the best student experience combines learning both inside and outside the classroom. To that end, students must complete two mandatory internships to graduate. Additionally, we have cultivated important relationships in the industry, ranging from industry leaders within West Virginia to global leaders. Experiential learning is paramount, and that’s just one piece of the puzzle.”
Hospitality University is an annual educational conference hosted by the West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association and the West Virginia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. The conference provides national speakers on issues affecting the tourism industry and key legislative issues important to the industry.
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CONTACT: Patrick Gregg, WVU College of Business and Economics
patrick.gregg@mail.wvu.edu; 304.293.5131
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