Wondering what the future of meetings
will look like? Look no further than the University of New Haven in
Connecticut (left) and three ambitious undergrads poised to take
over the hospitality industry.
Danyel Aversanti, 25,
of Mendham, N.J., junior in hotel and restaurant management.
Dream job: Meeting and event planner.
Reason: “I love the intensity.” Real-world
experience: The Whatever/Whenever department at the W San
Diego. Strangest request filled: To get a hotel
guest out of jail in Mexico. Industry assessment:
“It will always be aroundÉHopefully all of this terrorism stuff
settles down.”
Michelle Holmberg, 21,
of Greenfield, Mass., junior in hospitality and tourism
administration. Dream job: Hotel salesperson.
Previous dream job: Meeting planner.
Reason for the switch: To make better use of her
powers of persuasion. Real-world experience:
Internship at the Atlanta Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Industry
assessment: “It’s a good time to jump into it.”
Samantha Wright, 19,
of Freehold, N.J., sophomore in hospitality and tourism
administration. Dream job: Special event planner.
Real-world experience: Intern program at The
Venetian in Las Vegas. Biggest eye-opener: “If one
thing goes wrong, it’s the planner’s responsibility to rectify it.”
Industry assessment: “It’s a great industry and
has a lot to offer a lot of people.”