The Student Volunteer Experience, Part Two

Prepared by: Fernando Sarmiento

The Face of an Organization:

Very last 7 days I acquired the opportunity and privilege to represent the College of Houston Conrad N. Hilton Higher education for World Hospitality Management as a person of 18 student volunteers for HITEC 2022 (June 27-30), the world’s biggest and oldest hospitality technologies and finance convention. In celebration of its 50^th anniversary, the celebration was held at Orlando’s iconic Orange County Convention Middle, wherever about 6,000 attendees and exhibitor gathered to explore methods to key challenges our sector faces, as perfectly as put forth the most recent merchandise and solutions, with the intention of producing our clients and functioning lives a tiny greater.

As a seasoned occasion-goer myself, I was humbled by how significantly I discovered and gained from the practical experience. My earnest gratitude goes to HFTP, their strategic associates, and the HFTP Cougar Chapter, of which I am a member. It is thanks to them that I got to make new friendships and professional connections, and continued to master exterior of the classroom.

The Work and the Folks:

We were being requested to guide as the welcoming experience of HFTP by orienting and aiding both equally attendees and exhibitors during the convention, giving common assistance in the course of sessions, and of system, keeping the organizers informed of anything at all relevant.

Despite the fact that the student volunteers had been reliable with a extremely crucial undertaking, it under no circumstances truly felt like do the job mainly because the management powering the event were all truly enthusiastic about our purpose and set in great effort and hard work to make us all come to feel welcomed, ready and involved all over.

Also, I was surprised by numerous of my fellow students’ etiquette and knowledge of the business. But it was seriously their sunny disposition and kindness towards all people that produced them these types of a memorable combine of people to get the job done alongside with. These extraordinary learners from hospitality-relevant fields came from diverse universities across the region, these as San Jose State College, Northern Arizona College, New York University, as very well the Valencia Higher education (to title a several).

The Substance:

We have been inspired to go to classes of our desire, converse with knowledgeable specialists from the hospitality market, and wallop HITEC exhibitors with issues.

With this function being HITEC’s 50^th anniversary, the organizers and their associates have been absolutely sure to incorporate some exciting actions in the system, this kind of as the HITEC Opening Party at SeaWorld Orlando offered by Venza and CyberTek, wherever I got both equally my feet and cellphone wet the HFTP Youthful Pros (YP) Meet up with-up at The Tin Roof, which was a satisfy-and-greet above gentle beverages and snacks, hosted by HFTP and AAHOA and sponsored by Aimbridge Hospitality (pictured higher than) and a exclusive “Fireside Chat” session with lodge mogul Mr. Harris Rosen as section of HFTP’s 2022 Management Excellence Collection.

Overall, volunteering at HITEC was an inspiring experience for me, and I would invite other college students to take into account volunteering at the upcoming prospect they get. It is a likelihood for pupils to get a sense of performing on the front lines of celebration-planning, discover additional about the hospitality sector and its technological and economic elements, work on your networking competencies and make new lifelong mates and professional connections. It is very much well worth the test.

Fernando Sarmiento is a scholar at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton University for Global Hospitality Leadership and university student volunteer at HITEC Orlando 2022.