Collin McRae

Student Profile

Collin McRae (BA '09)

 "I wouldn't even want to imagine myself at another School..."

Hospitality Association

The mission of the Hospitality Association is to create and refine hospitality business leaders by providing forums for academic growth, industry experience, leadership roles, and career-enhancing opportunities and by encouraging social interaction and the development of student unity within The School of Hospitality Business.

The School's student Hospitality Association (HA) is the oldest-the original- student hospitality club in the nation. Today it is comprised of ten clubs, each giving students the chance to learn more about the industry, examine their career choices, develop their leadership skills, and make good friends and important contacts. HA also helps to plan and produce four main School events each year:

The School's Four Main Events

CAREER EXPO

For nearly three decades, CAREER EXPO has been the largest career fair and professional development event on campus each fall, with nearly 80 of the nation’s leading hospitality companies recruiting approximately 800 students who attend the two-day event. Day one begins with professional development workshops on a variety of topics conducted by industry leaders, and then The School’s Industry Partner of the Year is named. The evening’s career fair, featuring over 200 recruiters, provides industry professionals and students with networking opportunities, while formal interviews, held the second day of CAREER EXPO, help students to secure internships and permanent positions.

Information on this year’s event

Vegas Night

Held each winter, Vegas Night is a great opportunity for students to learn about the gaming industry. Open to the public, over 800 people gather to play blackjack, craps, roulette, Texas Hold ‘Em, and much more. School students organize, manage, and staff the event, with support from industry partners such as Harrah’s, The Venetian, and MGM Grand Detroit.

Information on this year’s event

The Hospitality Association/The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association Annual Auction

The Annual Auction in February is a premier fundraising event for the Hospitality Association and the Alumni Association, featuring spectacular individual items and packages donated by alumni and other industry friends in live auction and silent auctions. This popular event draws hundreds of community members, alumni, students, and faculty, and helps fund a number of programs in The School, as well as local charities. With a different theme each year, Auction is an exciting, colorful event, organized and led by students in partnership with School alumni.

Information on this year’s event

Les Gourmets

Les Gourmets is the oldest event of The School of Hospitality Business. Originated as a club in 1951, it hosted its first public dinner in 1956, a simple buffet. Through the years it became a dinner dance, and now it is a black-tie, seven-course, world-class reception and dinner showcasing the talents of hundreds of student volunteers and guest chefs. The students volunteer in all areas – management, sales, marketing, purchasing, finance, culinary management, bartending, and serving – and create a night to remember each spring for hundreds of guests.

Information on this year’s event

Student Clubs

The clubs of the Hospitality Association include:
Club Managers Association of America (CMAA)
Eta Sigma Delta
Hospitality Consultants' Club
Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals (HFTP)
Hospitality Sales and Marketing International
Global Hospitality Business Organization (GHBO)
National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH)
NAMA V-Team
Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
Society for Foodservice Management (SFM)

Each one of these clubs schedules speakers, tours, demonstrations, and other educational and social events catering to the diversified interests of the various club memberships.

The Hospitality Association is more than just its constituent clubs. HA also provides marketing and financial support to the various clubs and events and hosts activities throughout the year. For example, HA helps with or hosts:

  • Regular Board of Directors meetings (open to all students)
  • Annual Homecoming float and tailgate party
  • Bi-annual open houses
  • Bi-annual graduation lunches
  • Annual trips to the New York Hotel Show and The School's Celebration of Leadership
  • Annual trips to Chicago for the National Restaurant Show and The School's Annual Gathering of Leaders
  • The Broad College Welcome Night
  • The annual Party at the Aud

Hospitality Association Student Events Calendar

The Hospitality Association also helps and encourages students to attend the annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City and the annual National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, giving them opportunities to learn and grow.

One of the HA's beliefs is "By doing good, you will do well." For more than a decade, the HA clubs and events have made cash donations to Give Kids the World, Make-a-Wish Foundation, MSU Safe Place, Paws with a Cause, Ele's Place, MSU Habitat for Humanity, and the Junior League of Lansing, to name a few. We believe that giving back not only helps others, but it also gives us the opportunity to learn service to others.

Every Hospitality Business student at Michigan State University is automatically a member of the Hospitality Association.

Contact: Tabitha Lesh, President
Hospitality Association
232 Eppley Center
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517)355-5420
leshtabi@msu.edu