Written By Michael Bonn
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education” – Mark Twain
My father has instilled a value in me that will inspire me for the rest of my life. He told me to “take advantage of every opportunity you get” and to “surround yourself with people smarter than you.” The experience I had attending the 2016 HFTP Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada USA was just that. I learned so much from this wonderful event that will encourage me to strive for the best, and to lead others in their quest to achieve their dreams.
I would like to thank every individual that participated in executing this spectacular ceremony from the HFTP Global executive team, HFTP members, HFTP staff and all the way to the wait staff that flawlessly performed at their highest level to be sure attendees had an unforgettable experience. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve as a 2016 Annual Convention Official Guest Blogger, and I look forward to the continued relationships we have all had the pleasure of building together.
I hope everyone made it back home safe, and has comfortably adjusted back into their daily routines. In my first blog, I mentioned how I would approach the conference with an open mind and absorb as much knowledge as possible. As the recipient of the 2016 HFTP Student Chapter of the Year award, we thank you for such an incredible recognition. Upon our return to the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus, we all gathered to present our plaque to the Dean of our College as a token of appreciation, and to represent an achievement that was so rewarding for all of us.
Our next goal as officers of our HFTP student chapter is to put in the effort to build our chapter participation, and recruit new members to carry on the legacy we have built. After we graduate, some of us will choose to work as managers of hotels, maybe restaurants, or perhaps as a controller for a private club (like many HFTP members). My fondest memories from Annual Convention would have to be the level of education and value of experiences the keynote speakers shared with audiences.
The conference’s concurrent education sessions were packed with high quality information from start to finish. The presentations from incoming and outgoing HFTP Global Board members were both humbling and heartwarming. My network of global industry leaders has grown exponentially because of this experience. On behalf the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee HFTP student chapter, we thank you all for hosting this year’s outstanding conference, and we look forward to many more “family reunions” in the future.
Michael Bonn is a student at the University of South Florida Sarasota. Contact Michael at mikebonn88@gmail.com.
