Letter from the Dean – February 2022
Dear Boston Hospitality Review Subscribers,
It is my pleasure to invite you to our upcoming spring semester of the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, offered in-person at our school and available virtually.
This Friday, February 4 at 11 am EST, I will join in conversation with Karambir Kang, Area Director, USA of Indian Hotels Company Ltd, (previously known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces). This talk and the ones we have lined up provide a special opportunity to get a close-up view into the career and life choices that have shaped these accomplished executives’ paths, values, and leadership styles.
Karambir Kang’s story is also one of deep commitment and purpose, exemplifying Atithi Devo Bhava, the Sanskrit phrase meaning “the Guest is God.” Karambir was the General Manager of The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai when the hotel suffered a terror attack on November 26, 2008. A Harvard Business Review case study, “The Ordinary Heroes of the Taj: How an Indian hotel chain’s organizational culture nurtured employees who were willing to risk their lives to save their guests,” captured their extraordinary dedication and courage. It will most certainly be an inspiring and insightful discussion.
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Following Karambir’s talk, on Friday, February 18, we welcome Patti Simpson, Chief People Officer and the Spring 2022 “Executive-in-Residence,” and Richard Coraine, Founding Partner of Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG). This renowned hospitality group has created some of New York’s beloved dining destinations and founded the ever-popular Shake Shack. SHA continues its ongoing collaboration with USHG and founder CEO Danny Meyer, BU SHA ICON Awardee of 2021, to further delve into this award-winning company’s distinctive style of hospitality.
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Along the lines of personal stories of triumph is our next edition of BHR dedicated to the P.O.C. Ph.D. Pathway Program in Hospitality and Tourism. We are excited to announce the launch of this nationwide initiative to introduce the idea of an academic career in hospitality to high-achieving students of color. The inaugural in-person conference, organized by a consortium of deans and directors of university hospitality programs and HBCUs nationwide, will take place at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration on April 8 – 9, 2022.
In the March edition of BHR, P.O.C. professors from across the country reflect on their journeys and provide guidance and encouragement for students of color. The mission behind this initiative is to demonstrate that there is not only a pathway to a successful career as a professor but also a personally fulling runway ahead!
If you are interested to learn more about these programs, contact me directly at
aupneja@bu.edu.
Warmly,
Arun Upneja, Ph.D.
Dean, Boston University School of Hospitality Administration