Hospitality Leadership at ECU

🍍 SHL is ready! 🍍

Summer may be quieter, but things are definitely picking up at the School of Hospitality Leadership! Yesterday, our team came together for our departmental meeting to gear up for the new academic year. ☀️🗓️

We have been busy behind the scenes all summer working on several exciting projects that we cannot wait to share! Today was about getting prepared, recharging and refocusing on what matters most: student success and the future of SHL. 🎯🌟

We were excited to have SHL faculty and staff, along with colleagues from across ECU who are all working together to support our students and the future of hospitality leadership. 🏴‍☠️💜💛

ECU College of Business

📖 New Article from Dr. O’Halloran! 🏨

What does the future of the hospitality workforce look like? This latest article discusses how AI, technology, skills-based careers and employee expectations are redesigning the industry, while staying focused on people, connection and service. 🤖🌎🤝

Read the latest article here: https://bit.ly/4xKfSKt

ECU College of Business

💜💛🏴‍☠️ Future Pirates in the Making! 🏴‍☠️💜💛

We were excited to welcome a group of students from the Bertie and Vance County 4-H Clubs to the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership as part of their week-long college exploration camp! 🎉🏫

These students visited several colleges and universities to learn more about higher education and explore their future opportunities. We were honored that SHL was one of the stops on their journey! 🍍🌎

From learning about our hospitality program to touring our facilities and connecting with our SHL family, we hope they walked away with a better understanding of all that hospitality has to offer. 💼✨

Thank you for spending part of your college exploration experience with us! We loved having you on campus and wish you all the best as you continue exploring what your future holds. 🏴‍☠️💜💛

ECU College of Business

🥽✨ Hospitality is entering a new reality! ✨🥽

Dr. O'Halloran's newest Hotel Executive article, "Virtual and Augmented Reality Tools: Technology and Trends," explores how technologies are changing the hospitality industry in exciting ways. 🌍📱

From allowing travelers to experience destinations before they book, to creating immersive training opportunities for hospitality professionals, to enhancing the guest experience through interactive and personalized technology, virtual and augmented reality are quickly becoming valuable tools. 🏨🎓✨

As hospitality continues to evolve, understanding these innovations is more important than ever for students, educators, and industry leaders alike. 🚀🌐

📖 Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4xVVaIf

ECU College of Business

💜💛 That’s One of Ours! 💜💛

Here at the SHL there is something special about walking across campus and seeing students and alumni recognized for their accomplishments. Seeing a familiar face displayed among ECU’s award recipients and thinking, “That’s one of ours,” is a proud moment every time. ✨

That feeling was especially true when we spotted 2026 Outstanding Student Employee Christina Williams (Class of ’26). 🌟 Christina exemplifies the qualities of hospitality and leadership through her dedication, professionalism and commitment to serving others. 🤝💼

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Seeing our students recognized for their hard work and impact on the ECU community is always worth celebrating. 🎓🏆

We are incredibly proud of Christina and this well-deserved recognition, and we are even prouder to call her one of ours. Congratulations, Christina! 🎉👏

ECU College of Business

🤖🏨 Can AI make hospitality more personal?

In his latest Hotel Executive article, Dr. O’Halloran explores how AI-powered technology can help hospitality organizations better understand guest preferences, enhance service and create more personalized experiences. ✨📱❤️

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3POIamF

ECU College of Business

🍍 SHL Faculty Article Alert 🍍

Research and innovation continue to shape the future of hospitality. Dr. O’Halloran’s latest published article explores the use of business intelligence tools and their impact on decision-making within the hospitality industry, discussing how data-driven strategies can support stronger operations and management practices across the field. 📊🏨

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/3PgUMCy

🎉🎓🌟 Today is the day🌟🎓🎉

We are proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 and all of the hard work, dedication, and achievements that have led to this incredible milestone. Your moment has arrived, and we are honored to cheer you on as the celebrations begin. 💫👏

Watch the ceremony live on:
Facebook: https://bit.ly/4cyqrXW
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4mHFKSJ

🎉🎓Senior Spotlight🎓🎉

One thing is certain… Olivia Stencel does not back down from a challenge. Throughout her time as a student, she has consistently found ways to make things work, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth. 💪🚀

From attending a variety of conferences to actively supporting and uplifting her classmates, Olivia exemplifies what hospitality truly means. Whether she is celebrating others’ successes or pushing herself to achieve more, she brings a spirit of encouragement and resilience to everything she does. 👏🍍

Olivia represents the very best of what we hope to see in our students, determination, compassion and a commitment to lifting others along the way. 🏆🌟

🌟🎓 🚀 Only 3 days until graduation! 🚀🎓🌟

The countdown is almost complete, and we are filled with pride as our students prepare to cross into their next chapters. 📝🌈

Every late night, challenge overcome, and milestone achieved has brought you closer to graduation day. We celebrate your perseverance and all that you have accomplished. 💜💛⭐

Congratulations, Class of 2026! The moment you’ve worked so hard for is almost here! 🎉🥳