Alaska Airlines Manager of Sales and Community Marketing, Daniel Chun answers industry questions for students. Photo: Devin Takahashi/ Kapi’o
Last week, Kapiʻolani Community College Hospitality and Tourism Education (HOST) students along with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Travel Industry Management and Hawaiʻi Pacific University students attending the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) panel discussion.
Those who sat on the panel included: Daniel Chun, Regional Manager of Sales and Community Marketing for Alaska Airlines, Kelly Hoen, general manager of The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort Waikīkī, Chirsty Nakano, director of human resorces at the JW Marriott Ihilani Koʻolina Resort & Spa, Clint Schroeder, president of Hagadone Printing Company.
This is an inaugural event for the PATA Hawai’i, and the first one that was specifically held for KapCC HOST, HPU, and UH TIM students.
“We are hoping that students will take away valuable information about job search skills, expectations of employers, trends in the hospitality and tourism industry and sound advice from those who have successful careers,” Kawehi Sellers, HOST instructor and PATA board member wrote in an email correspondence.
Some of the questions answered, included: what industry trends do students need to understand?
In response to this question, Chun shared what he knows about the airline industry.
“Airlines are moving toward consolidation,” he said. “What sets us apart is having people (in regards to checking in your own bags). People will always be in the picture.”
Students also got a blast of information on what to include in a resume and what to do in an interview.
Nakano and Hoen offered tips to students like, always ask questions in your interview, and your resume will either open or close the door for you.
Hoen stressed that some employers do look at a perspective employees social media site.
“If you don’t watch who you are, what you’re posting, and what others are posting, you can loose your credibility over night,” Hoen said.
Even though the first portion of the PATA panel discussion consisted of pre-determined questions for the panelists, the students had their own chance to shine and ask questions as well.
The PATA event gives students another out-of-class experience and have personal interaction with those who are the “movers and shakers” in the hospitality and tourism industry. Sellers believes it’s important for students to be given positive role models and be exposed to this level of expertise (panelists at the PATA event).
“On behalf of the PATA Hawaiʻi Chapter, we are pleased to be involved in the development of Hawaiʻi’s next generation of tourism employees and manager.”