On Sept. 22, senior hospitality management major, Abigail Hearl flew to Phoenix, Ariz. for a four day conference put on by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation. She was one of seven students selected nationally to attend this program, which took place at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix.
“I absolutely feel honored to be selected from this university,” Hearl said. “ It’s a really great opportunity that not many students get to experience.”
Hearl has been in UNH’s WSBE Hospitality Management program since her freshman year and has spent most of her time studying the management of clubs. She said the conference was informative because she hopes to go into hotel management someday.
“I would like to eventually become a GM (general manager) because I really enjoy a managing role,” Hearl said.
Though the industry of Hospitality Management can be fraught with difficulties, Hearl said her commitment to quality will help her succeed.
“I don’t like to stop at a certain point,” she said. “I like to always set higher goals for myself.”
During her trip to Phoenix, she met with the CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and attended multiple seminars followed by cocktail parties. She also attended meetings with CEOs, presidents and senior executives.
Hearl is a very successful student in UNH’s Hospitality Management program, having already been awarded the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) scholarship.
She said the food and beverage courses she took part in, as well as the gourmet dinners were extremely valuable for her because they taught her how to act in real-life situations.
“The most hands-on courses are the most beneficial,” she said.
Ultimately, Hearl would like to own her own entity. Her ideal venture would be to own a brewery, mimicking the steps of her father.
“It would give me a good sense of accomplishment, to come full circle and finish what he started,” she said.
Although that may be Hearl’s dream, she said won’t stop there.
“I would be accomplishing a huge goal of mine, and then I would set out to make more goals,” said Hearl.
The mission of the Hospitality Management program at UNH is to “maintain itself as an accredited academic unit of exceptional quality that provides the highest possible level of academic service to our hospitality constituents in the areas of teaching, research and scholarship, university service, and community assistance/development.”
When asked if the program holds its students to high standards, sophomore Kayla Naczas said, “Yes, the classes are really challenging.”
Naczas is currently taking Food and Beverage Management pt. 2, Lodging Operations Management and Financial Accounting.
“They help you get a better degree,” Naczas said.
The program also has their students participate in a practicum, during which the students are given jobs on campus relating to their studies.
A mandatory internship is also included in the program, as a student has to complete 800 hours of on-the-job paid work experience in the hospitality industry upon graduation.
“Personality matters,” says Hearl.
“It’s all about service…all about making the customer happy,” said Naczas.
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