Seven students keenly interested in international hotels attended this innovative one-week course that was taught March 29 to April 2, 1999.  Upon completion of this advanced course, students have a better understanding of the challenges facing hospitality leaders in the international development and management of hotels. 

"I hope that some day I can inspire students the way Mr. Burns inspired me," stated Daniel Gennari (BA '00) after completing the course.  Joshua Smith (BA '00), another student attending Burns' course said, "I feel that MSU is innovative in offering a course like this one.  It helped to develop my skill set."  Burns was also a guest lecturer in the undergraduate hotel operations course and the MBA hotel finance class during his week at The School.

Burns has dedicated his career to the hotel industry for the past 37 years.  He selected Michigan State University (MSU) to earn his Bachelors degree because he believed that, for a veteran, the School had a better and more diversified program than others. While attending MSU, Burns was the host and director of the "Man in the Kitchen" hospitality television program that aired live from campus each Monday evening.  Under the tutelage of Evelyn Drake, he learned foodservice at the Kellogg Center.  Burns is a graduate of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management (now known as The School of Hospitality Business) at MSU and a graduate of the University of Michigan's Graduate School of Business.

Burns began his career with the first group of five inductees into Sheraton's initial Executive Training Program.  Advancing with Sheraton, and then with Westin Hotels, he later spent eight years with Hilton International Hotels as the general manager of the Kahala Hilton Hotel in Honolulu.  In 1970, Buns founded the Hong Kong-based Regent International Hotels.  Twenty-two years later, he sold his interest in Regent International.

Burns has served as a faculty member at the University of Hawaii and as president of the Hawaii Hotel Association.  He is past-chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council; a group of CEO's of airline, hotel, and travel-related companies.  Burns also serves as the chairman of the Robert H. Burns Foundation, and as a director of both the Asia Pacific Fund and the Wharf (Holdings) Limited in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1927, The School of Hospitality Business at MSU has more than 8,000 graduates worldwide.  The mission of The School is to be the leader in hospitality business education through teaching, research, and service.  Recognized as the top-ranked business college - based hospitality school in the world, The School offers an exceptionally well-crafted curriculum taught by innovative professors, who are leading textbook authors, sought-after consultants, and respected researchers.  The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association was founded in 1948 as the Michigan State College Hotel Administration Alumni Association.  The mission of The School's Alumni Association is to provide active leadership in support of participation, image enhancement, financial commitment, and promotion of synergies among students, faculty, alumni, and friends.