Ithaca, N.Y., February 6, 2006 - Who better to answer the hospitality
industry's urgent questions than the media leaders who are among the industry's
most knowledgeable insiders? Attendees at the 81st Hotel Ezra Cornell will
find out on April 7, when these leaders convene a panel to address pressing
issues in the industry.
Hotel Ezra Cornell is a student-run hospitality conference - an 81-year
tradition at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. This year's keynote
panel will feature Nancy Novogrod, Editor-in-Chief, Travel + Leisure and
Editorial Director of American Express Publishing; Maria Puetz-Willems,
Editor-In-Chief, HospitalityInside.com; and Christina Binkley, Senior Special
Writer, The Wall Street Journal. The panel will be moderated by Barbara
Talbott, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
It will be held Friday, April 7, at 8:45 a.m. in the Alice Statler Auditorium
of the Hotel School.
Together, these leaders will discuss the impact of recent events and
how these events are shaping the future - and trends - in the hospitality
industry.
Nancy
Novogrod, a veteran award-winning editor, is the Editor-in-Chief of
Travel + Leisure, the world's leading travel magazine. Novogrod also serves
as the Editorial Director of American Express Publishing Corporation, the
company which publishes Travel + Leisure, as well as: Departures, Travel
+ Leisure Golf, Travel + Leisure Family, and five international editions
of Travel + Leisure. Novogrod has received numerous editorial and business
accolades, including being named one of MIN magazine's "21 Most Intriguing
People" in publishing in 2003. Before joining Travel + Leisure in 1993,
she was Editor-in-Chief of Conde Nast's House and Garden. She also worked
as a book editor for Clarkson Potter Publi shers, ultimately ascending
to Executive Editor. In addition to her many editorial responsibilities
and world travels, Novogrod is engaged in numerous charitable and community
endeavors.
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Maria
Puetz-Willems works in a range of media - from the leading hotel and
travel trade magazines to leading business travel publications, economics
magazines and newspapers, and travel magazines published primarily in Germany
and Switzerland. In 2002, Puetz-Willems published her first book, in German,
through her newly founded publishing company. The book's title - "Spas
+ Economy: Professional and Profitable" ("Wellness + Wirtschaft: Professionell
und Profitabel" in German) - indicates her work's new focus on the prospering
spa and health industry. Her second book about spas is in progress. In
March 2005, Puetz-Willems launched the online magazine HospitalityInside.com,
a purely editorial, bilingual (German/English) weekly magazine for top
executives of the hospitality industry.
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Christina
Binkley is a senior special writer with The Wall Street Journal in
Los Angeles. Binkley joined The Wall Street Journal in 1994 and has been
writing about travel, hotels, and casinos since 1997. She is currently
on leave from her job, writing a book about Las Vegas. Prior to working
for The Wall Street Journal, she was a reporter at the Tallahassee Democrat
and the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. Binkley is a graduate of the Columbia
University Graduate School of Journalism.
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Barbara
Talbott (moderator) oversees marketing for the world's most honored
hotel company, ensuring that Four Seasons deeply instilled service values
are brought to life in every representation of the brand at its 70 properties
in 31 countries. Overseeing advertising and public relations; direct sales,
worldwide reservations and e-commerce teams, Talbott is responsible for
building a coveted global brand that is synonymous with the best in service,
surroundings and quality of guest experience. Talbott began her career
with the management consulting firm of McKinsey & Company. Prior to
joining Four Seasons she served as Vice President Marketing for the luxury
cruise company, Royal Viking. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of
Wisconsin and currently serves on the board of Cornell University's Center
for Hospitality Research.
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Program HEC 81
81st Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell
Thursday - April 6th
Welcome Cocktail
Opening Remarks
A message from your hosts Interim-Dean Sherri
Kimes and Managing Director Doug Leuthold
Friday - April 7th
�What's News? Three Media Leaders on Today's
Consumer and the Business of Hospitality�
Media executive forum moderated by Barbara Talbott
and featuring Christina Binkley, Nancy Novogrod, and Maria Puetz-Willems
�CHR Research Presentations: The Forefront
of Hospitality�
Undergraduate, graduate, and faculty research
presentations hosted by The Center for Hospitality Research
Power Lunch
�Asian Development: The Land of Opportunity�
Executive forum focusing on Asian development
featuring Marc Falcone, Robert Hecker and Patrick Imbardelli
Student Business Concept Fair
Poster session of student business concepts and
a brief restaurant concept presentation by Michael Beam
Bi-annual Cornell Hotel Society Board Meeting
Awards Banquet
Charity Auction
Saturday - April 8th
�Equity Research: The Hospitality Lodging Industry�
Equity research executive forum featuring Sean
Hennessey, John Arabia, and Bob LaFleur
�A New Era of Leadership�
Session with Dr. Michael Johnson, Dean-Elect
Student Showcase
Showcase of student projects from courses at
the Hotel School
Dean�s Brunch
Traditional Brunch with Interim Dean Sherri Kimes
3rd Annual Culinary Mystery Box Competition
Culinary competition featuring guest and student
interaction
Olive Oil Tasting
Olive oil tasting and pairing guided by Caryl
Simpson
A Pairing Experience
A dinner inspired by independent breweries
Culinary Institute of America Dinner
Cuisine by guest student chefs from the Culinary
Institute of America
Closing Cocktail |
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Hotel Ezra Cornell dates back to 1925, when Dean Howard Meek took a
group of students to New York City to manage the Hotel Astor for a day.
Upon returning to Ithaca, the students decided to hold a "hotel for a day"
to invite industry pioneers to Ithaca to see the new program. On May 7,
1926, the first Hotel Ezra Cornell was held at Risley Hall, which was a
women's dormitory at the time.
HEC provided a unique opportunity for Hotel School students to demonstrate
to industry leaders the benefits of an education in the field of hotel
administration. As a result, E.M. Statler donated the funds to construct
Statler Hall and the Statler Hotel. From its earliest beginnings, HEC has
played a significant role in the Hotel School's history.
Today, HEC offers a unique experience for the hospitality leader. Highlights
include dynamic seminars that address pressing issues in the hospitality
industry, an awards banquet celebrating research and academic achievement,
and leisure activities that take advantage of Cornell's campus and the
surrounding Finger Lakes region.
Now in its 81st anniversary, HEC strives to create an atmosphere where
industry professionals, academics, and students can gather and share their
passion for hospitality. Our dedication to service and culinary excellence
is complemented by our commitment to quality educational seminars featuring
some of the industry's most respected leaders. Please join us as we celebrate
this industry and prepare for the promising years ahead.
For more information on HEC 81, to be held April 6-9, 2006 on the Cornell
campus, visit http://www.hotelezracornell.com/
The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is shaping the
global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in
education, research and industry advancement. The School provides management
instruction in the full range of hospitality disciplines, educating the
next generation of leaders in the world's largest industry. Founded in
1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management,
the Cornell Hotel School is recognized as the world leader in its field.
For more information, visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu |