This is No Ordinary Auction

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. January 27, 2010

East Lansing, Michigan (January 25, 2010) - When students and alumni from The School of Hospitality Business at MSU host their 19th Annual Jazz Auction on Saturday, February 6, it should come as no surprise that the items, events, and packages offered are way beyond what one would find at an ordinary fundraising auction.

After all, alumni of The School are the ones who provide the items to be auctioned, and they are EXTRAORDINARY. The School, the oldest business-based hospitality school in the nation, boasts almost 10,000 alumni. And a great many of those alumni now manage and own some of the finest restaurants, clubs, resorts, and hotels in the world. In addition, those alumni generously support The School by donating vacation packages and dining experiences to the Auction, which are then offered to bidders who over the years have gotten the deals of a lifetime.

“The Ritz-Carlton is a great example,” explains Dr. Ron Cichy (BA '72, MBA '77), The School's director. “Our alumni from The Ritz-Carlton properties have donated both a 3-night vacation and a 4-night vacation in the Presidential House at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, located outside of Atlanta. This regal, 3-story, 5,400 square foot mansion has four master bedrooms and a heated private pool, with access to five world-class golf courses and the award-winning Ritz-Carlton spa. It would be hard to find these unique vacation experiences at any other auction.”

But packages also range from sports memorabilia and one-of-a-kind gift items (Silent auction) to Live auction packages like The Ritz-Carlton; stays in luxurious hotels around the country, and even throughout the world; tickets to fabulous sporting events; exquisite dining experiences; and getaways designed to pamper and please. All told, over 250 items with a retail value of more than $130,000 will be sold at Auction.

This popular community event draws hundreds of bidders who annually get great deals on these incredible items. The evening is lively, energetic, and fun, courtesy of renowned Auctioneer Bob Howe, who has entertained and encouraged bidders for each of the Auction's 19 years.

For the first time ever, this year's Jazz Auction will feature the entire Live auction catalogue online for anyone to review beginning Wednesday, January 27 at www.jazzauction2010.webs.com Remote bidding for the Auction is available as well, in Atlanta and in Denver, while the main event is on campus in East Lansing in the Big Ten Rooms of the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The Silent auction begins at 5:00, and the Live auction begins at 6:00. A $10 donation is requested at the door, while free food and soft drinks are available throughout the evening, as well as a cash bar.

With an event of this size and magnitude, it might be surprising to learn that it is produced and led primarily by student volunteers: an Executive Board led this year by student CEO Emily Smith, which has worked diligently for an entire year on Jazz Auction. They are given generous logistical and strategic advice by Auction Alumni Advisors Chuck Day (BA '91) and Jerry McVety (BA '67). More than one hundred additional students will volunteer on February 6 to make that evening memorable.

The Auction, the major fundraiser for The School's student Hospitality Association and its Alumni Association, donates a portion of its proceeds to the Junior League of Lansing, and the MSU Federal Credit Union Institute for Arts and Creativity at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on campus.

Please plan to attend, have fun, bid high, and bid often! For more information or to make a donation, go to www.jazzauction2010.webs.com

About The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University
Recognized as the top-ranked hospitality business school in the world, The School celebrates its 83rd year anniversary in 2010. The School has almost 10,000 graduates worldwide, including a number of leading academicians and industry executives, who have earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1927, the mission of The School is to continually enhance The School's leadership position in hospitality business education through teaching, research, and service. The School offers an exceptionally well-crafted curriculum, taught by innovative professors who are leading textbook authors, sought-after consultants, and respected researchers. The mission of The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association is to provide active leadership in support of the mission of The School of Hospitality Business through membership participation, image enhancement, financial commitment, and promotion of synergies among students, faculty, alumni, and friends. The First, The Original, and STILL The Leader. . . The School of Hospitality Business. For more information, please visit www.bus.msu.edu/shb/

The School of Hospitality Business
232 Eppley Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing , MI 48824
Website: www.bus.msu.edu/shb/HospitHH

Public Relations E-mail: [email protected]
Tele: 517.353.9211
Fax: 517.342.1170
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