Four MSU Students Learn from the Experts at ALIS

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. March 04, 2010

EAST LANSING, March 3, 2010 - Four MSU students, all officers in The School of Hospitality Business's Real Estate Investment Club (REIC), were able to attend the 9th annual Americas Lodging Investors Summit (ALIS) January 25 - 27 in San Diego. The students - Emily Lustig (BA '10), Patrick Beal (BA '10), Neil Naran (BA '10) and Garrett Ross (BA'11) - are all enrolled in The School's Real Estate and Development Specialization.

ALIS is the leading and largest hotel investment conference in the world, attracting more than 7,000 international delegates over the past three years. Produced by Burba Hotel Network, LLC (BHN), the Summit brings together hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers, and the professional advisory community in the hotel and tourism industry to discuss important trends and to identify new opportunities in the hospitality real estate industry. BHN was founded by School Alumnus and Wall of Fame class of Developers member Jim Burba (BA'77).

The four MSU undergraduates were able to participate in the breakout sessions and attend the keynote speaker presentations and networking receptions. They were also invited to a small gathering to meet the people “behind the scenes” of ALIS; this reception introduced the students to some Michigan State alumni including Jim Burba (BA'77), Jonathan Zink (BA '04), and Stephany Chen (BA '09), all from of BHN.

Additionally, Alumnus Ryan Meliker (MBA '05), vice president of Morgan Stanley Research, hosted a Michigan State alumni/student event, graciously underwritten by Morgan Stanley, where the MSU students were able to meet and interact with various Spartan alumni in the real estate & development industry.

All the student volunteers, including many from other hospitality programs around the nation, were responsible for staffing registration and information booths. Some of the students also worked during the breakout and plenary sessions to ensure that the panel speakers had everything that they needed and that all questions from the audience were answered.

ALIS even provided special informational sessions for student volunteers about interviewing, career opportunities, and networking.

“We learned so much,” says REIC President Emily Lustig. “But we also expanded our alumni network, and represented The School. We will share this information with other students, especially those in the Real Estate Investment Club, including lecture presentations and guest speakers whom we met at ALIS.”

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/