Abstract
The year was 1992, and I was in the second year of my master’s program. My thesis advisor asked me if I would like to present my research at the upcoming ICHRIE (International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education) conference. She explained that the college would cover my expenses and that it would be good for my career. I felt deeply honored (and more than a little nervous).
My paper was accepted, and my wife and I headed to Orlando. I had no idea what to expect. Keep in mind that in that era, you brought printed transparencies to use on an overhead projector!
The summer ICHRIE conferences were very different at that time. The awards dinner was black tie, and there was dancing following dinner—and everyone stayed! But what wasn’t different was the collegiality. In fact, some of the folks I met at that conference are today among my closest friends. Following a tour of Disney World, I will never forget that a group invited me to join them for a drink at Epcot. I barely knew these people. But I drank the Kool-Aid (actually beer), and I was hooked.
I continued attending the summer conferences and, once into my doctoral program, began asking some of the most respected ICHRIE members for advice on how to become more involved. The advice was consistent: finish your PhD, volunteer to serve on committees, earn tenure, then join the ICHRIE board. That is precisely the path I followed. A little over a decade after my first conference, I was elected Director of Membership, then Director of Research, and finally Vice President, President, and Past President.
In 2019, I received the Howard B. Meek Award for lifetime achievement, the highest individual recognition a member of ICHRIE may receive. My first thought was, “How can this be possible? I’m not old enough! And I don’t hold a candle to all those I’d seen receive the award during almost 30 years of ICHRIE conferences.” After my wife reminded me that I truly had been around long enough to be up for the award, I was able to frame my speech and recognize all those people who had trusted me, befriended me, and mentored me.
There is magic in ICHRIE. First, you make friends for life. Second, you depend on fellow members to advise and coach you. Finally, you are exposed to opportunities. My current professional role is a perfect example; at an ICHRIE conference in San Diego, I was invited to apply for the Dean’s position at the University of Houston Hilton College.
Simply stated, ICHRIE changes lives. This organization does for its members what we as academics do for our students. We open doors, encourage transformation, and, ultimately, change lives. What more can an organization do?
So what is the future of ICHRIE? We must continue with our mission of advancing hospitality education and research. We must provide opportunities and coaching for future generations of academics. And we must give back in whatever way fits our individual situations. As with any family, our members are not going to agree on everything. But one thing we must conclude is that we are stronger together than apart. My story, after all, is but one of thousands. And for those inclined to complain rather than promote ICHRIE, my response has been the same forever: “What have you contributed to the organization? What more could you do? What would make us stronger?
In closing, we must recognize that ours is a global, multidisciplinary field. The silos that once were so heavily fortified, separating hospitality programs and colleges, may still exist, but they are not permanent. Our job is to find ways to work together as partners. And ICHRIE is a wonderful mechanism we can all use to make this happen.
