The Hospitality Business Fellows (HBF) program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business was launched on Aug. 29, 2016. The 15 students in Cohort 1 of the program welcomed to their first class five senior executives from Choice Hotels International, who spoke about the wide variety of career opportunities available in the hospitality industry. Visiting the class were Pat Pacious, President and COO; Janis Cannon, SVP of Ascend and Cambria; Patrick Cimerola, SVP of Human Resources and Administration; Scott Oaksmith, Controller; and Anne Hendrick, VP of Human Resources. In addition to careers, they discussed company strategy, including the role of franchising in how Choice "goes-to-market," the addition of upscale brands to the portfolio, the structure of the Choice Hotel business model, the influence of intensifying competition, and the growing power of metasearch.
The Hospitality Business Fellows program is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Service (CES), in partnership with Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, and Marriott International. For more information on the HBF, please see www.rhsmith.umd.edu/programs/undergraduate-programs/academics/fellows-special-programs/hospitality-fellows.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.