City Tech hosts hospitality industry roundtable
On Thursday March 27, the first ever hospitality industry round table forum titled “Getting Started in the Front of the House” took place at New York City College Of Technology. A capacity crowd was present as the industry professionals chronicled their rise from entry level positions to senior management within the industry. The forum was hosted by Professor Patrick O’Halloran of the hospitality management department and sponsored by The Denihan Hospitality Group (DHG).
Guest speakers were Erika Frias of Edison NY Times Square, Kevin Mejia and Noel Nelson of Affinia Dumont, Affinia Dumont, Ekland Skifteri of InterContiental Times Square and Nicole Young of Sheraton NY Times Square. Members of the audience included Su Mui Bentley Hotel, Dynia Mariano Double Tree, Fand Carlos Santiago of Bear Dallis Associates. At the conclusion of the presentations an enlightened question-and-answer session took place.
Denihan Hospitality Group has been owned and operated by members of the Denihan family since 1963, when patriarch and founder Benjamin J. (“Bud”) Denihan Sr. entered into the world of hospitality by building New York’s first apartment hotel, which today is the Affinia Gardens on East 64th Street. Constructed on the former site of the family’s exclusive laundry and dry cleaning business which Bud established in the 1930’s, the property was the first development for Denihan. Today, this leader in owning and operating upper upscale and luxury boutique hotels boasts a portfolio of 15 properties in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Miami.