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) 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.

Miami Beach High Senior, Maydel Almaguer, Receives the Top Lodging and Management Student of the Year Award.

Maydel Almaguer has received the top Lodging Management Student of the Year Award and will receive a $5,000 scholarship to be used toward her college education.  She is currently a senior at Miami Beach Senior High School and President of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT).  This is the first time in the history of the program that a scholarship was awarded to a current senior.  Maydel will have the opportunity to speak to over 1,000 attendees at the Florida Restaurant and Hospitality Awards Luncheon to be held in Orlando on September 8.  In addition, one of Beach High’s June of 2007 graduates, Oliver Layfield, who is currently attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Hospitality Management, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Both scholarships were awarded through the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Educational Foundation, the educational arm of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

 
At this prestigious event to be held in Orlando on September 8, two Beach High AOHT graduates, Roseline and Roselaine Bien Aime, class of ’01, will be speaking to the Board of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association about what the Academy program has done for them.  Both of these ladies were recognized by the National Academy Foundation (NAF) last year and are currently working at the Loews Hotel in management.   In addition, another graduate, Alan Alvarez, c/o ’05 and currently attending the University of Florida and majoring in Hospitality Management, will be recognized with the “Hospitality Excellence Award”.

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.

Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools off to the Big Apple as Winners of the Hispanic Heritance Essay Contest

Miami , FL – Students from the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, traveled to New York City May 6-9, 2007 as winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay sponsored by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFHCC), Southwest Airlines and Cingular Wireless. Winners from Miami Beach Senior High School were Jessica Gonzalez, Melanie Brown, Jason Rodriguez and Lilian Lopez. Winners from Miami Norland Senior High School are Daniel Marin, Karla Vizcarrendo, Ruth James, and Noel Sampson. Winners from Miami Springs Senior High School are Ysanet Batista and Billy Juste.

The contest's objective was to urge young Americans to reflect on the Latino heritage and to celebrate their rich, bicultural background while emphasizing the importance of travel and tourism. The topic of the essay was “Hispanics – A Wealth of Contributions to the American Economy.” In addition to having a trip to New York trip sponsored by the SFLHCC, their airfare and accommodations are sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Cingular Wireless has also provided each winner with a “Go” cellular phone with a $100 credit to keep in touch with friends and families on their trip. The itinerary included a tour of New York Life Insurance Company, El Museo del Barrio, the United Nations, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building , NBC Studios, and a Broadway play.

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is locally a program of Specialized Programs – Schools of Choice and 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. NAF targets high-need urban school districts and serves over 45,000 students in over 500 academies. Established in 1987 by a grant from the American Express Foundation, the academy continues to prepare a diverse community of high school students for college and careers in the industry.

Patti Smith, Rebecca Fields and Steve Azquanazy

A Third Consecutive Victory for the Miami Beach High Academy of Hospitality and Tourism State Lodging Management Championship

Miami Beach, FL—January 25, 2007.  The four-member student team of Michael David, Nina Arias, Katherine Rubio and Odin Porras proved that study and hard work does pay off!  As a result, these Miami Beach High School students won the state championship of the Lodging Management Program student competition sponsored by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation under the auspices of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. This accomplishment is the third consecutive victory for Miami Beach High School.  Special thanks to our industry partners who helped the students prepare for the competition – Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, Surfcomber Hotel, Biscayne Bay Marriott, and the Hyatt Regency Miami.

The championship took place at the Best Western Resort in Lake Buena Vista.  The team’s skills in hotel operations, which included case studies in food and beverage, sales/marketing, a night audit, room inspection, banquet and events as well as a knowledge bowl demonstrating their skills and knowledge in Lodging Management were tested.  These students will represent the state of Florida at the national championship to be held in April at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando.

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 Business Chairperson, Dr. Lupe Ferran Diaz.

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism career academy located at Miami Beach Senior High Schools was selected by the National Academy Foundation in partnership with American Express as the Southeastern Regional winner of the annual Aldo Papone Award for Leadership in Academy Performance.

The award recognizes excellence among NAF Academies that are on the leading edge of high school reform. One award of $5000 was presented to programs in each of NAF’s five regions.  The money is targeted for use for student scholarships/awards and programmatic support. Award winning schoools may be invited to host a NAF Design Studios to showcase promising practices within the NAF Network. The Miami Beach AOHT was established in 1990 and serves as a local and national model for career academy development.

Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools off to the Big Apple as Winners of the Hispanic Heritance Essay Contest

Miami, FL – October 21, 2006  - Ten students from the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools were recently announced as winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay sponsored by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFHCC), Southwest Airlines and Cingular Wireless.  Winners from Miami Beach Senior High School are Jessica Gonzalez, Melanie Brown, Jason Rodriguez and Lilian Lopez. Winners from Miami Norland Senior High School are Daniel Marin, Karla Vizcarrendo, Ruth James, and Noel Sampson. Winners from Miami Springs Senior High School are Ysanet Batista and Billy Juste.

The contest’s objective was to urge young Americans to reflect on the Latino heritage and to celebrate their rich, bicultural background while emphasizing the importance of travel and tourism. The topic of the essay was “Hispanics – A Wealth of Contributions to the American Economy.” In addition to having a trip to New York trip sponsored by the SFLHCC, their airfare and accommodations are sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Cingular Wireless has also provided each winner with a “Go” cellular phone with a $100 credit to keep in touch with friends and families on their trip. The itinerary includes cultural museums and sites such as El Museo del Barrio, the United Nations, Hispanic Society of America, the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration and the New York Stock Exchange.

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is locally a program of Specialized Programs – Schools of Choice and 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. NAF targets high-need urban school districts and serves over 45,000 students in over 500 academies.  For additional information on the Miami-Dade County academy program, contact Ann Fields, NAF Director.