Seventeen students from Montana State University attended the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association Conference and Trade Show in Missoula in October. The event offered them exposure to current trends in the hospitality industry and a chance to build professional relationships.
This participation comes as MSU launched a new hospitality management degree this fall, with two options: a business-specific track within the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and a sustainable hospitality option housed in the College of Education, Health and Human Development.
The colleges funded student travel based on academic merit. The conference included breakout sessions and lectures about developments in the field. Students reported that attendees were welcoming and there was a strong sense of community.
“It is exciting to have MSU students from both options within the hospitality management degree program connect with hospitality and lodging industry leaders,” said Tricia Seifert, dean of the EHHD college. “Making these professional connections jump-starts employment opportunities for our students.”
Business professor Christine LeClaire accompanied six business hospitality students: Lily Bryman, Trevor Edmondson, Ellie Lawson, Kate Mulligan, Jocelyn Nivus, and Owen Pring. Professors Wenhao Zhang and Damla Sönmez attended with eleven sustainable hospitality students: Taylor Brookwalter, Matthew Danielson, Reid Johnson, Amelia Kirt, Raegen Lange, Gavin Mayo, Walter Pearson, Katherine Sexton, Aiden Stroman, Nicholas Szotak, and Bella Tonazzi.
“Over the course of the conference, students built meaningful relationships with hospitality professionals from across Montana, attended engaging breakout sessions, and gained invaluable insights into the real-world challenges and opportunities of the industry,” Zhang said.
“I’m so proud of these students for working so hard and applying themselves right from the start of the semester,” LeClaire added. “It’s very obvious to me that each of the students who won sponsorship will succeed in their careers and strengthen our hospitality and tourism industry here in Montana.”
Several participants shared their experiences with peers in LeClaire’s Introduction to Hospitality class. Mulligan described her favorite session on ConciergeGPT—an artificial intelligence tool for hotel guests—delivered by Tim Lockie. Nivus spoke about a presentation exploring leadership qualities through animal behavior. Edmondson and Bryman highlighted information about how new liquor laws affect businesses; this session was led by Helena attorney Joel Silverman.
Bryman aims to open her own jiu jitsu gym after graduation and is focused on learning about entrepreneurship while at MSU.
Brian Gillespie, dean of the business college, noted that David Pearlman will join as director of the business hospitality program in January. Pearlman previously helped launch a similar program at Arkansas State University.
“We are excited to welcome David Pearlman to the MSU community and for him to share his valuable professional experience with our many interested students,” Gillespie said. “The program is already off to a great start, and it will only get better from here.”
Gallatin College MSU also offers a certificate in hospitality management. More information can be found at gallatin.montana.edu/academics/hospitality/index.html.
