April 04, 2012
Working in the hotel industry is no easy task – it takes hard
work, determination, long hours and a bright personality to truly
succeed.
Photo Gallery
St. John’s University students got to see those attributes in
action as part of the Alumni Insider’s
View…Hospitality Management program, which brought them on a
tour of the world-famous Marriott Marquis in Times Square. In
addition to exploring the facilities, students heard from a panel
of Marriott employees, including alumna Sara Silvestri ’10CPS.
“I want the students here to be optimistic about the job
market,” said Silvestri, who currently works as Marketing and
Public Relations Coordinator for Marriott International. “It’s so
important to get your foot in the door, to take internships and
apply for as many different jobs as you can. In my case, I never
thought I’d be working in the hospitality industry, but you have to
put yourself out there and try new things, and I hope that’s what
students learn from myself and the other speakers.”
Silvestri provided a St. John’s perspective on the hotel
industry, explaining how she turned her Communications degree into
a full-time job and sharing tips on how students can do the
same.
George McNeill, Director of Food and Beverage at the Marriott
Marquis and one of only 53 certified Master Chefs in the country,
also spoke to the students. A longtime hospitality professional,
McNeill had recently spent six and a half years working at the Ritz
Carlton.
“Hospitality is all about your ability to connect with people,”
he explained. “We look for that natural talent in our employees,
because customer interaction is truly vital. It directly translates
to whether you can create a customer for life, and a customer for
life is both a huge opportunity and a huge responsibility. Marriott
takes that very seriously.”
Students had an opportunity to ask questions and network
with the panelists before setting out on a tour of the Marquis,
getting an insider’s look at what goes on behind the scenes of a
world-class hotel.
Among the highlights: a $10,000-per-night executive suite, which
has housed celebrities such as baseball player Alex Rodriguez and
singer Madonna; the rotating rooftop restaurant on the 50th floor;
the eighth-floor lounge overlooking Times Square; and the back
offices behind the front desk.
The students gained tremendous insight from the tour and from
the panelists.
“It was a fascinating experience,” said Meredith Kenyon ’13CPS.
“It really helps to see what you’ve been learning in class get put
into practice. The panelists discussed the different pricing
strategies for the hotel – from holidays to weekends and in between
– and I found that part especially interesting.”
Thomas Herits ‘12CPS – a senior preparing for his graduation in
only a few weeks – viewed the program as an opportunity to get an
early peak at his upcoming career.
“The panelists all give you hope for the future,” he noted.
“There was a wide range of speakers, from people who have been
working in this industry for decades to an alumna who just
graduated last year. They all emphasized how important it is to get
your foot in the door however you can. Sometimes you have to work
an entry-level position you might not love, but in the end it can
take you where you want to go. Overall, their insight made this
trip worthwhile, so I’m very glad to have attended.”