SHA Spring Break Experiences
For questions, please contact Olivia Lizza, Alumni & Events Specialist, lizzaol@bu.edu.
BU SHA’s immersive Spring Break experiences are crafted for graduate and undergraduate students to dive deep into the world of global hospitality with a unique focus on Experience Innovation. From March 8-15, 2025, students journeyed to New York City and Athens, Greece, blending adventure with unparalleled insight into the hospitality industry.
These curated trips are designed to showcase the power of human interaction as a tool for problem-solving and business growth. With customized itineraries in each city, students expanded their perspective of hospitality through the lens of Experience Innovation, exploring how premier companies create memorable and impactful experiences. Throughout the trip, students met in small-group settings with industry professionals for insider perspectives on the development, marketing, operations, and financial strategies that shape successful organizations.
Discover how hospitality is redefining sectors including hotels, dining, travel, and tourism — and extending to industries such as health and wellness, real estate, retail, arts, sports, and entertainment. This journey is more than a trip; it’s a unique opportunity to build connections, expand your career horizons, and return as a global Experience Innovator ready to make a meaningful impact in any field where people and profit matter.
Spring Break Experience in Athens, Greece
Athens Trip Theme
The Roots of Philoxenia to Modern-Day Hospitality
Arrival in Greece: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Departure from Greece: Saturday, March 15, 2025
7 nights in Greece
The Spring Break Experience in Athens, Greece takes us to the birthplace of hospitality to discover the roots of philoxenia, (love for the stranger), which has its origins in Greek mythology and lives on to this day in Greek culture.
Discover the culture, history, and art of Greece, the birthplace of Western civilization. Meet with leaders in the industry to learn about the practice of Greek hospitality in modern-day Athens. Visits will include classic tourist attractions, hotel site visits, food/walking tours, art, architecture, and more.
BU SHA subsidizes this trip to keep student registration fees low for the activities included.
Trip includes:
- Hotel accommodations (2-3 students per room): Amalia Hotel Athens
- Daily breakfast and selected group meals
- Tours, activities, and admission fees included in the itinerary
*Students are responsible for travel to and from Athens, Greece, meals (except planned group meals), and incidentals/personal expenses incurred during the trip.
Financial Assistance: Students may apply for financial assistance and can indicate this request in their application form. Financial assistance will vary. Please note that students receiving financial assistance will be required to pay all fees in advance. Students will receive financial assistance grants 6-8 weeks after the completion of the trip.
Sample itinerary and visits:
- Meeting and tour of Amalia Hotel Athens
- Day trip to Delphi, visiting museums and renowned archaeological sites such as the ancient Oracle, the temple of Apollo, and the Archaeological Museum of Delphi. Includes a tour of Amalia Hotel Delphi
- Walking Tours of Plaka, Athens Riviera, historical sites, and museums
- Day trip to the islands of Aegina, Spetses, and Ydra
Spring Break Experience in New York City
NYC Trip Theme
Life in the Limelight: Legends & Landmarks
Arrival in NYC: Sunday, March 9, 2025
Departure from NYC: Friday, March 14, 2025 (late afternoon/early evening)
5 nights
Highlighting NYC’s cultural, culinary, and entertainment attractions that make this city one of the most visited in the world.
During this immersive trip, meet with industry leaders, colleagues, and SHA alums who work in various aspects of hospitality including lodging, luxury, events, marketing, entertainment, and real estate in one of the most energetic cities in the world – New York! This multi-day itinerary for learning, conversations, and networking will provide an opportunity to build personal relationships with each other and expand professional connections. There’ll be plenty of free time built in time to explore New York City too.
Student Fees: BU SHA subsidizes this trip to keep student registration fees low for the activities included.
Trip includes:
- Hotel accommodations (2 students per room)
- Selected group meals
- Broadway Show
- Tours, activities, and admission fees included in the itinerary
*Students are responsible for travel to and from New York City, in-city transportation costs, meals (except planned group meals), and incidentals/personal expenses incurred during the trip.
Financial Assistance: Students may apply for financial assistance and can indicate this request in their application form. Financial assistance will vary. Please note that students receiving financial assistance will be required to pay all fees in advance. Students will receive financial assistance grants a few weeks after the completion of the trip.
Sample itinerary and visits based on past trips:
- Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), founded by Danny Meyer, for an introduction to “Hospitality Quotient,” followed by a visit to one of USHG’s renowned restaurants.
Prepare by reading the Boston Hospitality Review interview with Richard Coraine, Cofounder of USHG: Embracing an Enlightened Approach to Hospitality.”
– watching the Dean’s Distinguished Speakers Series talk with Richard Coraine and Patti Simpson of USHG.
- The Algonquin Hotel: at this jewel of historic New York hotels, gather round for an engaging panel discussion with BU alumni who share words of wisdom from their storied careers in arts, entertainment, fine dining, and hotel management with Willis Loughhead, General Manager of The Algonquin Hotel, Corey Steinfast, Tony Award-winning Producer, and Vice President of Sales, Broadway Plus, and Kobi Kassal, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Theaterly.
Prepare by reading: Historic Hotel In New York City Introduces Round Table To A New Generation, Forbes, Jan. 2025
“As a front-row seat for keeping tabs on New York City and its culture, the Algonquin has you covered in more ways than one.”
- Broadway Show: Broadway represents big business for NYC as a primary attraction for visitors and residents alike. As audience members, we’ll also explore the transportive experience of theater (narrative, set design, drama, and anticipation) and its applications to various hospitality settings. The selected show will be announced soon.
- The Smith Restaurant & Bar: Meeting with the senior leaders behind this growing restaurant group at one of their popular restaurants.
- Shaver Hall: Tour this soon-to-open best-in-class food hall, located within Amazon’s Hank building at 424 5th Avenue. Named in honor of Dorothy Shaver, the trailblazing president of Lord & Taylor and first woman to head a multimillion-dollar business, Shaver Hall embodies the spirit of innovation, creativity, and cultural influence.
- Convene 530 Fifth Avenue: Learn about this global network of hospitality-driven meeting, event, and flexible office spaces. Visit and interact with interactive case studies presented by Sophie Primiano, Sales Specialist, and SHA alumna.
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