Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) Announces the Spring 2022 Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series
(Updated – February 16, 2022) Boston, MA – Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) continues its year-long 40th-anniversary celebration with events and programs to mark this milestone including the return of the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series. These talks feature top-level experts and entrepreneurs across the industry spectrum on select Fridays from 11am to 12pm EST. (See dates for in-person and/or virtual attendance options.)
The esteemed Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, presents an outstanding line-up of influential C-Suite executives, representing the various avenues of the hospitality business, talking about the innovations, ideas, and trends that will shape the future of the industry.
“We are proud to present this series to get an up-close and candid view of the remarkable journeys of these leaders and their perspective on the path forward,” noted Arun Upneja, Ph.D., Dean of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. “These visionaries will surely inspire us with their wisdom and thoughtful approach to the challenges ahead. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to the next generation of hospitality leaders.”
Registration & Information:
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series | School of Hospitality Administration
Location for in-person talks:
In-person: School of Hospitality Administration Auditorium, 928 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Fridays, Feb 4 & 18 at 11am-12pm EST
(Guests have the option of attending all talks virtually via Zoom.)
Spring 2022 Speakers:
Feb 4: Karambir Kang, Area Director – USA, Taj Hotels/Indian Hotels Company Limited
Atithi Devo Bhava, the Sanskrit phrase meaning “the Guest is God” characterizes the meaning of guest-host relationship going back for centuries in Indian culture. This saying also applies to the situation that Mr. Kang faced as the General Manager of The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai when the hotel suffered a terror attack on November 26, 2008. He and his team received global accolades for saving many guests and reopening the hotel in 21 days. Mr. Kang shares his reflections on the importance of commitment to duty and purpose.
Feb 18: Patti Simpson*, Chief People Officer, and Richard Coraine, Founding Partner, Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG)
Union Square Hospitality Group has created some of New York’s most beloved restaurants, cafes, and bars. In addition to also founding Shake Shack, USHG offers operational consulting, runs a multifaceted catering and events business, Union Square Events, and a growth fund, Enlightened Hospitality Investments (EHI). This talk, in addition to a Masters student field experience at the NYC headquarters in March 2022, continues SHA’s ongoing collaboration with USHG and founder and CEO Danny Meyer, BU SHA ICON Awardee of 2021 to further delve into this award-winning company’s distinctive style of hospitality.
*Patti Simpson is BU SHA Executive-in-Residence – 2022.
March 18: Denise Dupré, founder and managing partner of Champagne Hospitality, a hotel design and development company, and BU SHA Advisory Board member
Fitting for one of the “finale” events of SHA’s 40th-anniversary celebration, Ms. Dupré will share stories from SHA’s early days as an associate professor and director of the hospitality program. During her tenure, Dupré was instrumental in helping the program, which was originally part of Metropolitan College, become an independent school within BU. Dupré will join in a lively discussion with Dean Arun Upneja about the future of hospitality from both the business and education-focused perspectives.
The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series will be presented at BU School of Hospitality Administration, 928 Commonwealth Avenue (Auditorium – Room 110). See the SHA website for updates. Guests have the option of attending all talks virtually via Zoom.
The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series is free and open to the Boston University community and the general public. Registration for all events is required.
*Photography is available upon request.
See the full calendar of events in honor of BU SHA’s 40th year-long anniversary celebration: www.bu.edu/hospitality.
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About Boston University School of Hospitality Administration: Established in 1981 and now celebrating 40 years of Innovating the Business of Hospitality, Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (SHA) offers students a combination of rigorous academics, liberal arts curriculum, and international experiences for the pursuit of success in lodging, restaurants, food service, and other avenues of the hospitality industry. SHA has a unique relationship with the city of Boston, where the area’s hotels and restaurants provide students with numerous opportunities for internships to satisfy work experience requirements for their degrees. For more information about the powerful SHA undergraduate program, visit Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Undergraduate Program | School of Hospitality Administration and to learn more about the internationally recognized MMH program, visit Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) Degree | BU SHA .
About Boston University: Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 34,000 students, it is the fourth-largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit About BU | Boston University
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Arun Upneja, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Email: aupneja@bu.edu
Office: 617-358-6744
Mara Littman, MMH
Corporate and Public Relations/Lecturer
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Email: mlittman@bu.edu
Office: 617-353-4496