Hospitality Management Students Attend Reception Heralding Return of Tourism
Sep 24, 2021
L to R: Carl JiJita Accelerated MS Degree HMT student, Samantha Alterman ’20CCPS, Raquel Goncalves ’20GCCPS, ‘21MSIHM, Kate Smith ’20CCPS, ‘22MSIHM and Tristan Wenger (Accelerated MS Degree HMT student)
A group of International Hospitality Management majors from St. John’s University attended a special cocktail reception, “New York City Tourism is Back, Start Spreading Your News,” celebrating the city’s new $30 million marketing campaign to stimulate tourism.
“This event is a prototype of the hands on experience we enable our graduate students to garner during their MSIHM degree,” said April M. Merenda, Assistant Professor and Industry Professional, and Program Coordinator, M.S. in International Hospitality Management program. “The networking opportunity with various directors and managers from respected employers in their field was priceless”
The campaign, “NYC Reawakens,” is led by NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization and convention and visitor’s bureau. It aims to bring both domestic and international visitors to the city.
The students welcomed the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and consider a future career in the local tourism industry. "The reception generated much excitement for the city's new marketing campaign," said Kate Smith '20CCPS. "I plan to become involved in the tourism resurgence to take place in the city and many other places across the country."
The evening’s special guest was Tony- and Grammy Award-winning actor André De Shields. This month, Broadway theaters reopened at full capacity; Mr. de Shields stars in Hadestown.
