Auburn University and Ithaka Hospitality Partners Offer Hands-On Learning for Future Hoteliers

Auburn University is establishing a concierge-level hotel training with the assistance of Ithaka Hospitality Partners, the property’s operational management, and Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud Service. The Laurel Hotel & Spa is part of the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University (RCSC).

The venue will provide lodging for visitors and house the university’s hospitality management school. Students will first study OPERA Cloud in their studies and then use this knowledge in the hotel when it opens later this year.

“The Laurel Hotel & Spa will offer ground-breaking technical advantages for students, staff, and visitors alike,” said Hans van der Reijden, founder and CEO, of Ithaka Hospitality Partners.

“OPERA Cloud will provide the property with industry-leading technology to run efficiently, but even more importantly, will deliver an immersive educational experience that blends hands-on learning with cross-functional coursework to prepare students to be leaders in the hospitality industry,” continued Hans van der Reijden.

The Laurel environment will be developed and constructed with student learning in mind. Undergraduates will receive hands-on, practical experience in all elements of hotel management by using OPERA Cloud. The experience will help Auburn’s hotel management students become prospective industry leaders.

The Laurel Hotel & Spa will have 16 guestrooms, 10 suites, six homes, a spa, a fitness studio, a rooftop pool, and a yoga pavilion, allowing Auburn University students to serve visitors. Guests may also visit 1856, a culinary mansion, as well as a microbrewery, a rooftop terrace and garden, a culinary laboratory, a coffee bar and roaster, and the Hey Day Market Food Hall.

“Staffing is one of the largest obstacles facing hospitality today, making what Auburn University and Ithaka Hospitality Partners are doing not only invaluable for students but essential for our industry,” said Alex Alt, senior vice president, and general manager, Oracle Hospitality.