University News

Students of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management at the University of Memphis will be paired with members of the leadership team of the Holiday Inn at the University to operate the full-service hotel all day on March 16.

Kemmons Wilson Day will enable each student to work with an on-site mentor in a well-recognized and successful hotel operation. Students will be assigned times to work between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. with members of the leadership team including Tom Johnson, managing director of the Wilson Conference Center Group; Debbie Cowgill, general manager of the hotel; Lorna Brown-Ray, marketing director; Phillip Austin, director of sales, and leadership team members in accounting, banquets, conferences services, and other departments.

The Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis is a living laboratory for Wilson School students. The Wilson School faculty organized this event as a practical learning experience for the students, to provide them with the opportunity to work in areas they are unfamiliar with, but have an interest in pursuing. This is in addition to the 1200 hours of required internship that each Wilson School student must complete. The event will also give students the opportunity to network with professionals in the hospitality field.

Kemmons Wilson Day activities will end with the inaugural induction of students into Eta Sigma Delta, the International Hospitality Honor Society, and a banquet prepared by a group of students who have elected to work with hotel chef Edward Nowakowski and his staff. They will prepare the evening meal for the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management Advisory Board, which will meet at the hotel that day.

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