The Student Volunteer Experience, Part Two

Penned by: Fernando Sarmiento

The Facial area of an Business:

Past 7 days I got the possibility and privilege to depict the College of Houston Conrad N. Hilton University for World wide Hospitality Management as 1 of 18 college student volunteers for HITEC 2022 (June 27-30), the world’s biggest and oldest hospitality technology and finance conference. In celebration of its 50^th anniversary, the event was held at Orlando’s legendary Orange County Conference Heart, exactly where more than 6,000 attendees and exhibitor gathered to talk about answers to key difficulties our industry faces, as perfectly as put forth the latest goods and expert services, with the purpose of producing our prospects and performing lives a very little superior.

As a seasoned party-goer myself, I was humbled by how much I realized and acquired from the working experience. My earnest gratitude goes to HFTP, their strategic partners, and the HFTP Cougar Chapter, of which I am a member. It is thanks to them that I acquired to make new friendships and expert connections, and ongoing to master outdoors of the classroom.

The Get the job done and the People today:

We ended up questioned to assist as the welcoming experience of HFTP by orienting and helping each attendees and exhibitors all through the convention, delivering common aid through classes, and of study course, retaining the organizers educated of everything related.

Despite the fact that the student volunteers had been reliable with a really significant job, it in no way genuinely felt like get the job done for the reason that the leadership behind the celebration ended up all certainly enthusiastic about our job and place in wonderful effort and hard work to make us all experience welcomed, geared up and included all over.

Similarly, I was stunned by many of my fellow students’ etiquette and know-how of the industry. But it was definitely their sunny disposition and kindness toward everybody that made them this kind of a unforgettable mix of folks to function alongside with. These incredible students from hospitality-associated fields came from different colleges across the state, such as San Jose State College, Northern Arizona College, New York University, as perfectly the Valencia School (to title a few).

The Substance:

We were being encouraged to attend periods of our interest, converse with professional industry experts from the hospitality market, and wallop HITEC exhibitors with queries.

With this party getting HITEC’s 50^th anniversary, the organizers and their companions have been sure to contain some attention-grabbing activities in the software, these as the HITEC Opening Occasion at SeaWorld Orlando offered by Venza and CyberTek, exactly where I bought each my feet and phone wet the HFTP Young Experts (YP) Satisfy-up at The Tin Roof, which was a satisfy-and-greet above light beverages and snacks, hosted by HFTP and AAHOA and sponsored by Aimbridge Hospitality (pictured above) and a specific “Fireside Chat” session with lodge mogul Mr. Harris Rosen as portion of HFTP’s 2022 Leadership Excellence Series.

Over-all, volunteering at HITEC was an inspiring knowledge for me, and I would invite other learners to take into consideration volunteering at the next chance they get. It is a probability for pupils to get a feeling of working on the entrance lines of party-organizing, understand a lot more about the hospitality market and its technological and fiscal elements, operate on your networking competencies and make new lifelong buddies and experienced connections. It is really considerably worthy of the try out.

Fernando Sarmiento is a student at the College of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College or university for Worldwide Hospitality Management and college student volunteer at HITEC Orlando 2022.