Boston University Hospitality Students Take Second and Third Place in Hotel Management Competition
On Friday, July 28, 2017, Katie Acheson (SHA ’18) and Leonie Grundler (SHA ’18) were named second and third place winners in the 2nd Annual VB College – Hotel Management Competition. The awards were presented at the International Counsel on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Suzanne Bagnera and Dr. Peter Szende accepted the awards on behalf of the students.
The VB College – Hotel Management Competition challenged students to use Knowledge Matters Inc. hotel simulation tool to successfully manipulate room prices, marketing, hotel operations, and restaurant menu creation, staffing and pricing. Rankings were based on a balanced scorecard of profitability, customer sanctification, and employee satisfaction. The first place winner finished with a score of 115.7 followed by Katie Acheson at 115.4 and Leonie Grundler at 115. Students in HF370 Revenue Management taught by Althea Peabody, Director of Pricing and Distribution, Starwood Hotels, were encouraged to participate in the competition as a way to reinforce and practice the lessons they learned in class.
The Competition is sponsored by ICHRIE and Collegiate DECA. The hotel simulation used in the competition was developed in partnership with the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and Marriott International.