ESU Students Gain Real-World Experience Through Partnership with Camelback Resort

East Stroudsburg University hospitality and business students are gaining valuable industry experience through a new work-based learning partnership with Camelback Resort, connecting classroom learning with real-world challenges and career opportunities in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Students enrolled in the Community Tourism Development course participated this fall in a series of professional development and industry-engagement activities.

The initiative provides students with opportunities to apply classroom concepts in professional settings while developing relationships with industry professionals and gaining a deeper understanding of careers across the hospitality and tourism sector. The course is taught by Li-Ming (Stanley) Chiang, Ed.D., chair, professor, and internship coordinator for HRTM.

As part of the project, students visited Camelback Resort to explore a variety of hospitality operations and career pathways. Activities included a resort tour, mock interviews, résumé reviews, professional networking and discussions with managers representing departments such as food and beverage, human resources, aquatics, front desk operations and sales.

The experience also allowed students to explore individual areas of professional interest. Each student selected a hospitality-related topic and was paired with Camelback professionals who provided industry insight and shared their experiences.

For Caleb Hostetter, a senior in Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism Management with a minor in Event Planning, employee retention was a particular area of interest. Hostetter met with Camelback’s food and beverage leadership to learn how the resort approaches employee engagement, retention and workplace culture.

“This was a great way for us to get out of the classroom and meet with people who are actually working in the hospitality industry every day,” Hostetter said. “I was able to learn a lot about the behind-the-scenes of the food and beverage department and everything that they do to be a successful operation.”

“The partnership is designed to foster the College of Business and Management’s learning objectives by combining theory, practice and application with progressive, hands-on learning experiences that integrate classroom knowledge with professional practice,” said Dr. Sylvester Williams, dean of the College of Business and Management.

The initiative is part of HRTM’s Work-Based Learning: Sustainable Talent Development Project, an effort meant to strengthen relationships with regional employers and create meaningful pathways between higher education and the hospitality and tourism workforce.

“The project aims to strengthen community partnerships, expand student exposure to diverse career pathways, and foster sustainable workforce development within the hospitality and tourism industry,” Chiang said. “These experiences allow students to see how the concepts they learn in the classroom are applied in professional environments and help them become more confident and career ready.”

Learn more about ESU’s hospitality, recreation and tourism management program.

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