A number of students from the hospitality program at the New York Institute of Technology took part in PCMA's Convening Leaders Annual Meeting in Las Vegas from January 8 through January 13th. As my school's liaison with the New York chapter, I was given the opportunity to participate in this event and to benefit from this amazing learning opportunity.
On the first day, we attended the PCMA student union where various mentors talked to us about the importance of character as well as one's attitude and one' s demeanor in the industry. The mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar B.Goodman, delivered welcoming speech which highlighted the significance of this event.
Every day we attended a luncheon sponsored by different countries such as Canada and Mexico. This was followed by motivating speeches delivered by such renowned speakers as Daniel Pink, who spoke about the fact that humans are not truly motivated externally (the carrot and stick philosophy), but by the need "to direct our lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world."
Afterwards, we attended the networking reception held at the MGM lounge and the pool party (Notte Di Moda) held at the Venetian, where we "partied with a purpose"--a key networking principle in our industry.
Moreover, each day we attended a variety of enriching educational sessions that included such topics as, "How To Plan a Meeting in Less Than 30 Days." Each day continental breakfast was followed by major inspirational speakers such as Renee West (president & CEO of Excalibur and Luxor Hotels), whose empowering speech was titled "Tightrope to the Top." Zappos' CEO Tony Hsiesh's speech entitled "Delivering Happiness" further enhanced our entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of business expansion.
In addition, the refreshing performance by "Jersey Boys" and the happy hour at the Hard Rock Cafe on the strip further contributed to the festive spirit of the convention, and reminded us that our industry can allow for both work and play under the right circumstances.
Overall, this trip was the learning experience of a lifetime or us. We met with some of the most successful leaders in the hospitality industry, which was both inspiring and educational. We were both inspired and impressed by the PCMA Board of Directors' ability to coordinate successfully such an outstanding event. Personally, this trip further reinforced my desire to succeed in this industry and encouraged me to continue to grow as an ambitious new professional. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to more possible opportunities such as this one.
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