HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE TO WELCOME MORE THAN 600 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

MIAMI (March 31, 2008) -- More than 600 students seeking careers in the hospitality and tourism industry will join in the 17th Annual Student Industry Conference April 24, 2008, presented by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. Hosted by the Miami Beach Convention Center, an SMG Managed Facility, the conference -- themed "AOHT: Celebrating the Past and Developing Leaders for the Future" -- will provide high school students who are part of the academy's program the chance to interview with prominent local companies for summer internships.

"The conference celebrates the Academy's 20 years of success and reflects the importance of industry and post-secondary leaders joining together to provide workforce development opportunities for today's students who are tomorrow's industry leaders," said Orlando Velazquez, Jr., CHA, CAM, chair of the event and area general manager for Ian Schrager Company.

A highlight of the conference will be keynote speaker Stuart L. Blumberg, president and CEO of Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association and one of the Academy's founders. Industry partners also will participate in a college/careerfair and interview eligible juniors for the summer internship program.

Two concurrent breakout sessions will be presented to the students by a variety of industry leaders: Conrad Miami, Florida National College, Four Seasons Hotel, Holiday Inn Miami International Airport, Hyatt Regency Miami, Ian Schraeger Company of Hotels, Johnson and Wales University, Loews Miami Beach Resort, Miami Seaquarium, Marriott Miami Airport, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Miami-Dade College, Miami Beach Convention Center, an SMG Managed Facility, Park One, St. Thomas University and the Visitor Industry Council.

Host sponsors are the Miami Beach Convention Center, Centerplate and Smart Source. Contributing sponsors include Arazoza & Fernandez-Fraga, PA, Beach Towing, Inc. BGW Design Limited, Joseph T. Comras, Conrad Miami, Delano Hotel, Don Shulas Hotel & Golf Club, EMF & Associates, Inc., Four Seasons Hotel, Gerson, Preston, Robinson & Company, PA, Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, Hyatt Regency Miami, Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant, Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami Beach Golf Club, Sea View Hotel, Inc., Sofitel Miami and The Biltmore Hotel.

Academy of Hospitality and Tourism programs are member programs of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), an industry-supported nonprofit, which seek out and support partnerships between business and public schools to create career academies.

Locally, an industry advisory board provides career-connecting activities and guides the programs. Miami-Dade County academies are located at John A. Ferguson Senior High School, Homestead Senior High School, Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami Norland Senior High School, Miami Springs Senior High School and Robert Morgan Educational Center.

Companies interested in college/career fair space or interviewing academy members at the conference are asked to contact Ann Fields at 305-885-8127.

Media Contact: Stuart Newman Associates, (305) 461-3300

Conference Contact: Ann Fields, 305-885-8127 or Eric Eimstad, (305) 365-2512

Miami Beach High Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Wins at State Lodging Management Championship Miami Beach, FL—January 31, 2008. The four-member student team of Odin Porras, Katherine Rubio, Melissa Tatta and Dilia Tabora proved that study and hard work does pay off! As a result, these Miami Beach High School students won several awards at the state championship of the Lodging Management Program student competition sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association under the auspices of The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Special thanks to industry partners who helped the students prepare for the competition: Loews Miami Beach Hotel and Professor Paul Michael Klein, St. Thomas University. The championship took place at the Amelia Island Plantation in conjunction with the Board of Directors meeting of the Florida Restaurant and Hotel Association. This exciting, two-day competition allowed competitors to demonstrate their hospitality knowledge by competing in a knowledge bowl, complete room inspections, night audit tasks, analyze two case studies (one in Food and Beverage and the other in Sales and Marketing) as well as demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities in planning an event, to include the invitation, BEO (Banquet Event Order), menu and floor plan. Miami Beach High School placed first in Hospitality Project; second place in Hotel Operations and a 2nd place overall winner. Each team member received a $750 scholarship, renewable for four years, to Johnson & Wales University. Miami Beach Senior High School is a member program of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Locally, through the School Choice and Parental Options Office, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has six Academies of Hospitality and Tourism. For additional information on the Miami Beach High School Academy program, contact the Lead Teacher, Dr. Lupe Ferran Diaz.

(MIAMI) Jan. 15, 2008 -- The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and Johnson and Wales University are gearing up for the 2008 Around the World Dinner and Auction Feb. 2, 2008. To boost donations for the Academy program, the organization is hosting an online auction prior to the event. The items can be accessed at www.aoht.cmarket.com.

The online auction will run through Jan. 30 at 6 p.m., and the bidding will resume in a live-auction format at the event. Online bidders do not have to attend the event to collect on a successful bid.

More than 50 items are up for grabs, including vacation packages, cruises, precious jewelry, tickets to local sporting events and attractions, hotel stays and dining opportunities. Below is just a sample of the items up for auction:

• The owner's penthouse suite on a Carnival Cruise Lines cruise; a transatlantic crossing on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and a Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean International.
• Vacation packages to Cancun, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Kitts and St. Thomas in the Caribbean.
• A Miami Heat sneaker autographed by basketball star Alonzo Mourning
• A two-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami, including a three-hour limousine ride.
• An Andrea Candela Diamante Collection gold and diamond bracelet.
• Miami International Boat Show VIP Day Package with a two-night stay at the Marriott South Beach Hotel.
• Two tickets to the musical "Footloose" and a one-night stay at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables.
• A Deluxe Executive Suite for 12-15 people for the Florida Marlins opening-day game on April 1, 2008, at Dolphin Stadium.

The Around the World Dinner is an annual event held to raise funds to benefit Academy programs at local Miami-Dade County high schools. At the event, a variety of food stations will be set up to allow attendees to sample diverse dishes from around the world prepared by Johnson & Wales chefs and apprentice chefs. Tickets for the event are $175 per person.

Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a member of the nonprofit National Academy Foundation (NAF), a national network of career academies to support the development of America's youth toward personal and professional success in high school, higher education and throughout their careers. Locally, an industry advisory board provides career-connecting activities and guides academy programs. Miami-Dade County academies are located at Homestead Senior High School, Ferguson Senior High School, Robert Morgan Educational Center, Miami Beach Senior High School, Miami Norland Senior High School and Miami Springs Senior High School.

Johnson and Wales is a world-class career university providing its students the opportunity to combine traditional academics with real-world experiences.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, call Ann Fields at (305) 885-8127 or afields@dadeschools.net.