Visiting Lecturer A.J. Brooks, left, and entrepreneurial hospitality student Caitlyn Krug try out a Porsche at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta.
In October, Freeman students and faculty traveled to Atlanta to meet and learn from some of the top names in hospitality. The trip was part of the concentration/specialization in entrepreneurial hospitality, a new focus area that emphasizes the customer experience as a means of creating a competitive advantage. Associate Dean John Clarke and Visiting Lecturer A.J. Brooks accompanied students on visits to the Delta Sky Club, the Porsche Experience Center and United Distributors, the beverage alcohol wholesaler led by Doug Hertz (A&S ’74, MBA ’76).
“You wouldn’t think of an airline, a high-end car dealer and a beverage distributor as hospitality oriented, but their clients are their number one priority,” said Samantha Cummings (MMG ’20). “It was really interesting to see that client experiences are at the core of everything we do in business, even if we’re not immediately aware of it.”
The trip wrapped up with an alumni reception and discussion of the new entrepreneurial hospitality initiatives with Freeman School Dean Ira Solomon hosted by Mark Tipton (A&S ’78).
