Hospitality Students Partner with Industry Leaders to Solve Real-World Challenges

HLOs:

Students in the Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management program showcased their skills and innovation in their capstone course, working alongside industry partners under the guidance of instructor Wendy Burgess. The initiative challenged students to research and propose solutions to real-world industry issues, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice.

Through the application of strategic business models, critical thinking, and teamwork, students developed feasible solutions and detailed implementation plans tailored to real industry cases. Their efforts culminated in presentations to partners, demonstrating not only technical knowledge but also the value of collaboration between education and industry.

This year’s winning teams represented both the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) and Germain (ALT) Hotels:

Team ORHMA

• Anish Bhusal, Gaurav Rai, Krimi Raval, Rishi Raj Sharma, Rohan Shrestha, Baljit Singh and Gia Phuong Thai

Teams Germain (ALT) Hotels

• Mohammed Al Naqeb, Maria Eduarda Almeida Couto, Veronica Brakwah, Vedeetee Daramsing, Ngozi Okoro and Chamika Yapa Appuhamilage
• John Rey Gordola, Dikshit Kamboj, Tuan Khang Ngo, Balraj Nimmala, Le Thanh Ngoc Tran and Jonalyn Villanueva

The success of this capstone project was made possible through the support of dedicated industry partners, including:

• Fatima Finnegan – Vice President, ORHMA
• Andrea Young – General Manager, Germain/ALT Hotels
• Ivan Rueda – Chef, Germain/ALT Hotels
• Edyta Gocek – Business Development Manager, Toronto Region, Germain/ALT Hotels

Their expertise and mentorship provided students with invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s hospitality sector.

This initiative highlights the importance of experiential learning at Humber, where students gain the confidence, knowledge, and hands-on experience to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Congratulations to all participating students for their hard work and innovation, and to our partners for making this collaboration a success.

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