The Student Volunteer Experience, Part Two

Composed by: Fernando Sarmiento

The Face of an Firm:

Final 7 days I got the likelihood and privilege to represent the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton Higher education for Global Hospitality Management as a single of 18 college student volunteers for HITEC 2022 (June 27-30), the world’s major and oldest hospitality technological know-how and finance conference. In celebration of its 50^th anniversary, the function was held at Orlando’s iconic Orange County Conference Centre, exactly where in excess of 6,000 attendees and exhibitor collected to examine methods to critical difficulties our field faces, as perfectly as set forth the latest products and products and services, with the purpose of earning our clients and operating life a little greater.

As a seasoned occasion-goer myself, I was humbled by how significantly I acquired and acquired from the knowledge. My earnest gratitude goes to HFTP, their strategic companions, and the HFTP Cougar Chapter, of which I am a member. It is many thanks to them that I got to make new friendships and professional connections, and continued to study outdoors of the classroom.

The Get the job done and the People:

We have been asked to aid as the welcoming facial area of HFTP by orienting and helping both of those attendees and exhibitors during the conference, giving common guidance all through classes, and of course, holding the organizers educated of anything at all related.

Although the student volunteers had been trustworthy with a pretty significant activity, it hardly ever truly felt like perform simply because the leadership guiding the celebration ended up all genuinely enthusiastic about our function and put in good exertion to make us all experience welcomed, ready and involved through.

Similarly, I was stunned by numerous of my fellow students’ etiquette and expertise of the field. But it was truly their sunny disposition and kindness towards anyone that designed them these a memorable blend of people today to perform alongside with. These amazing college students from hospitality-related fields arrived from various colleges across the state, this kind of as San Jose Point out University, Northern Arizona College, New York University, as well the Valencia College or university (to identify a few).

The Material:

We were being encouraged to attend classes of our desire, converse with professional pros from the hospitality industry, and wallop HITEC exhibitors with questions.

With this function remaining HITEC’s 50^th anniversary, the organizers and their companions ended up confident to contain some appealing activities in the software, this sort of as the HITEC Opening Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando presented by Venza and CyberTek, the place I bought the two my ft and cell phone moist the HFTP Youthful Gurus (YP) Satisfy-up at The Tin Roof, which was a meet-and-greet over gentle drinks and treats, hosted by HFTP and AAHOA and sponsored by Aimbridge Hospitality (pictured previously mentioned) and a exclusive “Fireside Chat” session with lodge mogul Mr. Harris Rosen as element of HFTP’s 2022 Management Excellence Series.

Over-all, volunteering at HITEC was an inspiring encounter for me, and I would invite other students to consider volunteering at the upcoming opportunity they get. It is a possibility for students to get a perception of doing the job on the front strains of event-preparing, study additional about the hospitality market and its technological and financial parts, function on your networking competencies and make new lifelong buddies and expert connections. It is incredibly significantly worthy of the attempt.

Fernando Sarmiento is a pupil at the College of Houston Conrad N. Hilton Higher education for Global Hospitality Management and college student volunteer at HITEC Orlando 2022.