In the fall of 2018, Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management partnered with Fontainebleau Miami Beach to launch their Program On Demand, an innovative program created to offer university students a glimpse into working in the meetings and events industry. Organized as a real-time, intensive program, Program On Demand gives students knowledge outside of the classroom about various departments of a fully-functional hotel, with specific emphasis on understanding Hotel Operations Management. Fontainebleau Miami Beach is the first hotel to participate in the program.
“As a graduate from the Chaplin School of Hospitality at FIU, the school holds a special place in my heart,” says Philip Goldfarb, president and chief operating officer of Fontainebleau Miami Beach. “When I heard about the Program on Demand, I jumped at the chance to host the program at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Hands on experience is a crucial part of learning and I’m thrilled to give that experience to students at our hotel, helping to lay the foundation for their future careers in the hospitality industry.”
Students leave the program with hands-on experiences in many different aspects of hotel operations, while working alongside industry leaders. Over the three days, students can gain experience in room operations, marketing and finance departments, food and beverage operations, and more. The program at Fontainebleau has helped professionals to expose the skillsets students need to succeed in the industry.
“The Fontainebleau employs several FIU graduates, so the partnership made sense,” Goldfarb says. Upon completion of the three-day program, many students were encouraged to seek employment at the distinguished hotel. No prior industry experience is required, and all FIU university students were eligible to participate.
