Hospitality Leadership at ECU

09/03/2026

💜💛 SHL FACULTY MAKING AN IMPACT IN HOSPITALITY! 💛💜

Dr. O’Halloran’s newest article, “Evolving Workforce and Its Culture,” was recently published in Hotel Executive. 🏨📖

The article examines how hospitality work is changing and how those shifts affect the future of service. He discusses the growing role of technology and AI, from automating repetitive tasks to giving employees more time to connect with guests in more meaningful ways. He also talks about the range of skills needed in today’s hospitality workforce, from delivering great service to managing guest complaints and making thoughtful business decisions. 🤖💬

And at the center of it all is the big question: What should the workforce ultimately accomplish, and how do we keep delivering great service as things continue to evolve? 👥💡

We love to see SHL faculty sharing their expertise and contributing to important conversations across the hospitality industry. 💜💛

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4clr6gc 📲📚

ECU College of Business

08/27/2026

🔎 Looks like SHL has a clue! 🔎

The School of Hospitality Leadership was proud to have our student organizations represented at the annual Get a Clue event yesterday! 💜💛

Students from the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) and Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society were excited to be part of this fun event and showcase the leadership, professionalism and hospitality skills our students bring beyond the classroom. 👏🌟

We’re especially proud of Maddie Spigler, Hassan Alshagaih and Ava Simo for representing SHL and making the most of this opportunity! 🎉🙌

08/24/2026

💜💛🏴‍☠️From the SHL classroom to the community, hospitality is all about connections that last. 💜💛🏴‍☠️

ECU alumnus Brandon Qualls, owner of Ford + Shep, is putting that into action by mentoring SHL student Jordan Whitley in the kitchen and helping prepare the next generation of hospitality leaders. 👨‍🍳🍽️🤝

It’s a great example of how the SHL connects students with fantastic experiences, industry professionals and opportunities to grow. 🍴🌟

Read the full story to learn more about Brandon, Jordan and the connection between the SHL and Greenville’s hospitality community: https://bit.ly/4wOFWDd

ECU College of Business

08/17/2026

💜💛 WELCOME BACK, PIRATES! 💜💛

The first day of class is here, and the SHL is ready for another semester of learning, growing and making memories! 🎉✨

Our hallways are buzzing, our students are back, and we cannot wait to see all the excitement this semester brings. Whether you are starting your first semester or returning for another year, we are so glad you’re here! 🌊🏴‍☠️

Here’s to a great semester! Let’s make it a good one! 💜💛

ECU College of Business

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

🍍 SHL is ready! 🍍

Summer may be quieter, but things are definitely picking up at the School of Hospitality Leadership! Yesterday, our team came together for our departmental meeting to gear up for the new academic year. ☀️🗓️

We have been busy behind the scenes all summer working on several exciting projects that we cannot wait to share! Today was about getting prepared, recharging and refocusing on what matters most: student success and the future of SHL. 🎯🌟

We were excited to have SHL faculty and staff, along with colleagues from across ECU who are all working together to support our students and the future of hospitality leadership. 🏴‍☠️💜💛

ECU College of Business

08/13/2026

📖 New Article from Dr. O’Halloran! 🏨

What does the future of the hospitality workforce look like? This latest article discusses how AI, technology, skills-based careers and employee expectations are redesigning the industry, while staying focused on people, connection and service. 🤖🌎🤝

Read the latest article here: https://bit.ly/4xKfSKt

ECU College of Business

08/03/2026

💜💛🏴‍☠️ Future Pirates in the Making! 🏴‍☠️💜💛

We were excited to welcome a group of students from the Bertie and Vance County 4-H Clubs to the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership as part of their week-long college exploration camp! 🎉🏫

These students visited several colleges and universities to learn more about higher education and explore their future opportunities. We were honored that SHL was one of the stops on their journey! 🍍🌎

From learning about our hospitality program to touring our facilities and connecting with our SHL family, we hope they walked away with a better understanding of all that hospitality has to offer. 💼✨

Thank you for spending part of your college exploration experience with us! We loved having you on campus and wish you all the best as you continue exploring what your future holds. 🏴‍☠️💜💛

ECU College of Business

06/30/2026

🥽✨ Hospitality is entering a new reality! ✨🥽

Dr. O'Halloran's newest Hotel Executive article, "Virtual and Augmented Reality Tools: Technology and Trends," explores how technologies are changing the hospitality industry in exciting ways. 🌍📱

From allowing travelers to experience destinations before they book, to creating immersive training opportunities for hospitality professionals, to enhancing the guest experience through interactive and personalized technology, virtual and augmented reality are quickly becoming valuable tools. 🏨🎓✨

As hospitality continues to evolve, understanding these innovations is more important than ever for students, educators, and industry leaders alike. 🚀🌐

📖 Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4xVVaIf

ECU College of Business

06/22/2026

💜💛 That’s One of Ours! 💜💛

Here at the SHL there is something special about walking across campus and seeing students and alumni recognized for their accomplishments. Seeing a familiar face displayed among ECU’s award recipients and thinking, “That’s one of ours,” is a proud moment every time. ✨

That feeling was especially true when we spotted 2026 Outstanding Student Employee Christina Williams (Class of ’26). 🌟 Christina exemplifies the qualities of hospitality and leadership through her dedication, professionalism and commitment to serving others. 🤝💼

Moments like these remind us why we do what we do. Seeing our students recognized for their hard work and impact on the ECU community is always worth celebrating. 🎓🏆

We are incredibly proud of Christina and this well-deserved recognition, and we are even prouder to call her one of ours. Congratulations, Christina! 🎉👏

ECU College of Business