UNH Hospitality Management Program Hosts First Annual Symposium on Entrepreneurship in Hospitality - The Next Big Innovation

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. March 20, 2015

DURHAM, NH - March 20, 2015 - The University of New Hampshire Hospitality Management Program will host its first symposium on Entrepreneurship in Hospitality - The Next Big Innovation April 25, 2015, 8:30 a.m. at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. The symposium will kick off with an introduction highlighting changes that are occurring in the world of hospitality followed by two panel discussions with individuals who will share their expertise and experiences on bringing an idea to market. A luncheon and lecture will follow featuring keynote speaker David. Mr. Marr, Senior Vice President of Brand Management, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, North America. Individuals can register for the free event at https://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=17706 .

Nelson Barber, Chair of the UNH Hospitality Program, explained that the symposium will inspire and inform current students as well as professionals engaged in the industry on how to develop and execute their own entrepreneurial ideas. “Hospitality is no different than any other industry. We need to constantly challenge ourselves to develop new products, services, and technology that will improve and deliver a better customer experience,” stated Barber. “Attendees will learn firsthand from our panelists on how to get their ideas to market and how to fund it.”

"The symposium is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the talent of our College, Program faculty, students, and alumni," explained Arnold Garron, Interim Dean of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. "I recognize the challenge this industry has in continuing to deliver a better customer experience and innovation is the key to this success."

The University of New Hampshire Hospitality Management Program has lined up leaders across several industries in New Hampshire to share their entrepreneurial ideas and offer insights firsthand to attendees. They include Steve Salis, Founder, &Pizza; Aaron Anker, Founder, GrandyOats; Laura Baldini, Founder, Mother Juice Company; Joe Faro, Founder, Tuscan Kitchen; Nick McCoy, Managing Partner, Silverwood Partners; Brad Paige, President and CEO, Kennebunk Savings.

Keynote speaker, David C. Marr, is responsible for the brand experience delivery across Starwood's six full-service brands in the North America Division. He also directs the development, execution, and evaluation of all brand and tactical marketing communications, partner marketing strategies and public relations for the company's North American hotels. Prior to Starwood, Marr spent over 12 years with Marriott International, where he served as market director of business strategy for several of the company's hotels in New York, as well as director of sales and marketing for the New York Marriott Marquis. Prior to Marriott, he worked for Hilton Hotels Corporation for over five years in New York City at the Waldorf=Astoria, New Jersey, Boston, and Washington, DC. He is a member of the marketing council for the Travel Industry Association of America, the advisory council for Elite Meetings International, and is a past board member of the Hotel Association of New York City. David Marr is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire.

“Starwood has a strong commitment to innovation and design, shaping its business and world-class brands around these values,” said Marr. “We continuously look to enhance the guest experience by being pioneers in the hospitality space and introducing new offerings that will further build our brand recognition and loyalty.”

About UNH's Hospitality Management Program

UNH's Hospitality Management program is the second-oldest 4-year hospitality management program in the United States. The program provides students with the overall breadth and depth of a common core of business courses in accounting, economics, information systems, and management, as well as professional interdisciplinary courses and internship opportunities in hotel management, food service and restaurant management, conventions and event management, and other hospitality management areas. For more information, visit https://paulcollege.unh.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/bs-hospitality-management.

UNH Hospitality Management Program takes a one-size-fits-one approach to each prospective student. Students can “Choose Their Own Path to Success,” by specializing their education in areas, such as: food and beverage management, lodging and resort management, marketing and sales management, and event management. UNH graduates have a high placement rate with starting salaries competitive to the market.

About UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

The UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics offers a full complement of high-quality programs in business, economics, accounting, finance, management, information systems and business analytics, entrepreneurship, marketing, and hospitality management. Programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive development levels. The college is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the premier accrediting agency for business schools worldwide. For more information, visit paulcollege.unh.edu.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.