The Hospitality Gross sales & Advertising Affiliation Worldwide Basis is proud to announce Reem Alaqili, Margaret Thompson, Juliette van der Ham, and Libby Warden because the recipients of the 2025 Mike Dimond Pupil Profession Success Grant. This prestigious program helps the event alternatives accessible to hospitality college students excited by careers in business technique. The grant gives aspiring professionals with monetary help, entry to business thought management, and a devoted mentorship expertise with a seasoned government.
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Reem Alaqili is a fourth-year worldwide pupil learning hospitality administration at The Pennsylvania State College. She serves as president of the Nationwide Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and as secretary of Penn State’s HSMAI Collegiate Chapter, the place she first stepped into management as public relations chair. Reem has accomplished two internships with Marriott Holidays Worldwide, gaining entrance desk expertise whereas shadowing gross sales operations and strengthening her experience in visitor service and gross sales. Captivated with hospitality gross sales and advertising and marketing, she has actively pursued management, service, {and professional} growth alternatives to develop her expertise. She aspires to construct a profession in hospitality gross sales and advertising and marketing, bringing a world perspective and a robust drive for achievement to the business. - Margaret Thompson lately graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s diploma in hospitality administration, concentrating in occasion administration and advertising and marketing. She is going to start pursuing a grasp’s diploma in international hospitality administration at New York College this fall. Throughout her undergraduate profession, Margaret constructed a robust basis in occasion planning, advertising and marketing technique, and hospitality management, which she now appears ahead to increasing by way of graduate examine. A devoted member of HSMAI, she is keen to proceed her involvement with the group and to construct a profitable profession in hospitality management.
- Juliette van der Ham is a fourth-year pupil at Resort Administration Faculty Maastricht, at the moment finishing her last internship in asset administration at Wasl Hospitality in Dubai. Her first internship took her to The Reykjavik Version in Iceland, the place she gained hands-on operational expertise as a housekeeping supervisor. Juliette pursued a minor in strategic income and actual property administration and accomplished a consultancy mission centered on acquisition and growth for a white-label operator. She has earned WSET and STR certifications and took part within the Excellence Program, later serving as exterior coordinator for a number of editions. In 2024, she joined the HSMAI Europe Pupil Council and was honored to function chair earlier than relocating. She additionally competed within the Younger Hospitality Summit, a world platform that encourages innovation. Passionate concerning the strategic aspect of hospitality, Juliette is devoted to initiatives that foster collaboration, development, and lifelong studying as she prepares to start her profession.
- Libby Worden, from Toronto, Canada, is a fourth-year hospitality and tourism administration pupil at Toronto Metropolitan College and co-president of the Ted Rogers Gross sales Membership. She lately accomplished an internship with HVS in Montreal, the place she gained hands-on expertise in resort consulting and valuation. Libby has additionally labored in inns throughout Canada and led her gross sales group to worldwide recognition, together with changing into the primary Canadian group to win General College Champion on the Worldwide Collegiate Gross sales Competitors in Florida. Captivated with hospitality, gross sales, and resort actual property, she is dedicated to bridging the hole between academia and business whereas pursuing a profession within the area.
Reem Alaqili is a fourth-year worldwide pupil learning hospitality administration at The Pennsylvania State College. She serves as president of the Nationwide Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and as secretary of Penn State’s HSMAI Collegiate Chapter, the place she first stepped into management as public relations chair. Reem has accomplished two internships with Marriott Holidays Worldwide, gaining entrance desk expertise whereas shadowing gross sales operations and strengthening her experience in visitor service and gross sales. Captivated with hospitality gross sales and advertising and marketing, she has actively pursued management, service, {and professional} growth alternatives to develop her expertise. She aspires to construct a profession in hospitality gross sales and advertising and marketing, bringing a world perspective and a robust drive for achievement to the business.
Margaret Thompson lately graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s diploma in hospitality administration, concentrating in occasion administration and advertising and marketing. She is going to start pursuing a grasp’s diploma in international hospitality administration at New York College this fall. Throughout her undergraduate profession, Margaret constructed a robust basis in occasion planning, advertising and marketing technique, and hospitality management, which she now appears ahead to increasing by way of graduate examine. A devoted member of HSMAI, she is keen to proceed her involvement with the group and to construct a profitable profession in hospitality management.
Juliette van der Ham is a fourth-year pupil at Resort Administration Faculty Maastricht, at the moment finishing her last internship in asset administration at Wasl Hospitality in Dubai. Her first internship took her to The Reykjavik Version in Iceland, the place she gained hands-on operational expertise as a housekeeping supervisor. Juliette pursued a minor in strategic income and actual property administration and accomplished a consultancy mission centered on acquisition and growth for a white-label operator. She has earned WSET and STR certifications and took part within the Excellence Program, later serving as exterior coordinator for a number of editions. In 2024, she joined the HSMAI Europe Pupil Council and was honored to function chair earlier than relocating. She additionally competed within the Younger Hospitality Summit, a world platform that encourages innovation. Passionate concerning the strategic aspect of hospitality, Juliette is devoted to initiatives that foster collaboration, development, and lifelong studying as she prepares to start her profession.
Libby Worden, from Toronto, Canada, is a fourth-year hospitality and tourism administration pupil at Toronto Metropolitan College and co-president of the Ted Rogers Gross sales Membership. She lately accomplished an internship with HVS in Montreal, the place she gained hands-on expertise in resort consulting and valuation. Libby has additionally labored in inns throughout Canada and led her gross sales group to worldwide recognition, together with changing into the primary Canadian group to win General College Champion on the Worldwide Collegiate Gross sales Competitors in Florida. Captivated with hospitality, gross sales, and resort actual property, she is dedicated to bridging the hole between academia and business whereas pursuing a profession within the area.The competitors for the Pupil Profession Success Grant considers educational achievement, business expertise, and a written assertion outlining profession aspirations. Submissions are reviewed by the HSMAI Basis Board of Administrators.
This yr’s grant recipients actually exemplify the curiosity, dedication, and management that outline the subsequent technology of hospitality professionals. We’re proud to offer them with assets, mentorship, and connections that can assist form their careers and, finally, the way forward for hospitality management. Lori Kiel, CHDM, Chair of the HSMAI Basis and Senior Vice President of Income Administration at Pyramid International Hospitality
Named in honor of Mike Dimond, one of many hospitality business’s most revered advertising and marketing executives, the grant was created by his household to develop and improve the event alternatives accessible to hospitality college students excited by careers in business technique. Dimond was extensively considered one of many nation’s prime resort advertising and marketing leaders, serving in senior roles together with senior vice chairman of gross sales and advertising and marketing at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. He’s a member of the HSMAI Corridor of Fame and was acknowledged as one in all “The 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality & Journey.”
To be taught extra on the HSMAI Basis and its packages, go to www.hsmaifoundation.org.
