Paul Moore, Dean of Academic Affairs (North Campus) and the Business & Management Pathway
provided us with updates on the impact of program support with funds raised at last November’s R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management Gala.

“This event supported Broward College to have five of South Florida’s top professionals in the hospitality and tourism industry share their expertise with our students. Through these community partners the Academy was able to offer unique opportunities the students may otherwise not have been able to experience through in-person seminars, and then amid the pandemic, transitioning to robust webinars in order to continue their educational experience.”

These experiences included:

  • A behind the scenes tour of the first guitar-shaped hotel ever built – The Hard Rock Hotel – gaining exposure to the massive operations of a grandiose hotel.
  • The Academy sponsored a volunteer recruitment event for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Broward College provided twenty-nine student volunteers who experienced first-hand the talents of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary personalities throughout the five-day festival.
  • Heiko Dobrikow, Executive Vice President at the Las Olas Company and the General Manager of the Riverside Hotel, shared his over 30 years of extensive experience in all areas of property and asset management.
  • Greg Cook, General Manager of the Ritz Carlton on Fort Lauderdale Beach, shared his inspiration for success in the hospitality and tourism industry.
  • Due to the COVID crisis, an in-person event transitioned to a remote webinar format featuring Rozeta Mahoubi, Broward County’s Regional Director of the FRLA, virtually addressing the students about the restaurant and lodging industry.

The R. Motwani Academy, despite all the challenges due to the pandemic, has been on the cutting edge of providing top notch access to the hospitality and tourism industry through innovation and technology. Broward College students have had the ability to learn from the best of the best despite the challenges facing our community. This transition was helped in great part by last year’s gala.

The 2020 R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management Gala has been postponed until 2021. If you are interested in supporting students with program or scholarship support, you can make a gift online.