claywenz

[claywenz]

Careers in HTM

As my HTM 101 adventure draws to an end, I can't help but look back and realize how much this class has enlightened me about the hospitality and tourism industry. Even though my heart is set on a career in cybersecurity, this course has truly ignited my entrepreneurial spirit and pushed me to pursue my passion projects. While I may not end up majoring or minoring in HTM, the insights I've gained here will undoubtedly come in handy in my future endeavors.

Throughout the course, I've delved into a variety of industry aspects like franchise opportunities, the F&B world, and discovering the exciting meetings and events scene. While these topics may not directly connect to my cybersecurity path, they've expanded my horizons and contributed to promoting my creative thinking when it comes to potential business ventures. This newfound inspiration has led me to dive into independent research, exploring how I can merge my coding and software development skills with the unique needs of various industries.

This class has also reinforced my desire to achieve a rewarding work-life balance. As someone pursuing a long-term career in cybersecurity, I don't want to be stuck in a stale, energy-draining environment. Instead, I envision a daily routine that integrates physical activity and engaging human interactions. So often I see monotonous work environments that are just so stagnant. My ambitions have inspired me to contemplate launching my own cybersecurity firm, giving me the freedom to create a work environment and culture that aligns with my values. My current plan would be to work in the industry for a couple of years and then eventually launch my own firm.

Ultimately, though cybersecurity remains my primary focus, this course has equipped me with invaluable insights and motivation that I can apply in my future endeavors. The course helped me to think beyond the many restricting conventional approaches and ponder new ways to pursue my passion for cybersecurity while also keeping true to my values and goals. As I keep developing professionally, I'll carry these lessons with me, continually seeking new opportunities and striving to maintain a perfect balance in my work and personal life.

[claywenz]

Reflection on HTM Speaker Series

I went into the HTM speaker series event not knowing what to expect. I was really impressed with what Courtney had to say about careers and professionalism and she definitely didn't hold anything back. Going into the event I kind of had the same perspective that Courtney had; however, I would say it wasn't fully formed. Attending allowed me to better mold my perspective on work environments and discern what I would like with my career.

I personally do not like the idea of sitting behind a desk for hours on end, staring at a computer screen. Unfortunately, a job in cybersecurity would entail that fate. However, that fact hasn't deterred me from pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. While I love being active and working on cybersecurity projects and an ideal work environment would be one where I could have a blend of both.

There are few places where I would be able to have that balance so I have often thought about doing my own thing in cybersecurity rather than working for a company. My current plan is to get some industry experience and then eventually start my own company where I could set my own workplace standards and create an environment that has the balance I desire. Hearing Courtney speak during the event definitely motivated me to pursue my goals while maintaining the standards I have set out.

After the HTM speaker series event, I felt even more motivated to pursue my own path within the cybersecurity field. It was reassuring to know that there are others out there with similar values and goals, which made me eager to network and connect with those who can help me develop professionally. As I plan for my future company, I will prioritize building a supportive and flexible work culture, allowing my employees to achieve success without compromising their personal lives. Courtney's talk not only strengthened my perspective on the importance of work-life balance, but also inspired me to strive to be a leader who values and nurtures a healthy and dynamic work environment for everyone involved.

[claywenz]

Franchises

Before doing the readings and videos assigned for this week's HTM topic, I frequently contemplated franchising a Chick-fil-A. This week has prompted me to conduct more in-depth research into the application process for franchising a Chick-fil-A, and I have certainly learned a lot Originally, I assumed that having the required $10,000 and submitting an application guaranteed ownership, but I was quite wrong. The application process is very competitive, with only around 1% of applicants getting approved.

The specifics of the contract include an initial $10,000 franchise fee, 15% of all sales as royalties, and 50% of all profits. The franchise fee is significantly lower than competitors like Subway, Dunkin', and McDonald's, which require hundreds of thousands of dollars in upfront costs. The benefits of franchising a Chick-fil-A include the popularity of the brand and a loyal customer base. However, there are drawbacks, such as the higher royalty and profit-sharing fees compared to other franchises.

From what I found online, training is available for franchisees, including a vast training program that covers all aspects of running a Chick-fil-A restaurant. The aim of the program is to ensure that franchisees are well-prepared to operate their businesses successfully. Regarding trademark rules and regulations, "franchisees must adhere to Chick-fil-A's strict branding guidelines", they claim that this helps maintain consistency across locations. Additionally, franchisees are expected to follow high standards in terms of product quality, customer service, and cleanliness.

After searching online, I found both positive and negative reviews of Chick-fil-A franchising. Some negative reviews mentioned the high royalties and profit-sharing fees, while others expressed concerns about the competitive application process. On the other hand, positive reviews highlighted the excellent training program, strong brand recognition, and loyal customer base. As for whether franchising is for me, I am still interested to pursue a Chick-fil-A franchise. Despite the drawbacks, I believe that the low initial investment, strong brand, and extensive training make it an appealing opportunity.

[claywenz]

F&B

Many changes have occurred in the F&B industry, with some being favorable and others not so much. The primary driving force behind these shifts has been Covid-19. I personally find meal kits appealing as they present healthy options and valuable cooking experiences. I usually only buy them when there's a good deal available, spending around $30 per week on food and making use of meal kit discounts. This approach enables me to maintain a healthy and affordable diet, which is becoming increasingly challenging these days.

A change that I'm not too keen on is the adoption of online menus, often accessed through scanning QR codes. While some might see this as trivial, I think it's an important factor to take into account. In my experience, when dining at a restaurant with QR code menus, almost all the time, people I'm with will scan the code, make their menu selection, and then continue using their phones.

I find this off-putting because, to me, a restaurant should facilitate face-to-face interactions. It's all too common for us to be preoccupied with our devices while eating out or even at home, taking away from the social aspect of eating with one another.

Additionally, I've had the pleasure of eating at a few farm-to-fork establishments, which have become some of my favorite dining spots. Nevertheless, I've observed that their menus usually feature basic dishes like hamburgers, pizzas, and sandwiches. I would be excited to try, for example, Mexican cuisine prepared in a farm-to-fork manner, but it seems there are limited opportunities for such experiences, at least in Michigan.

[claywenz]

Monetization

Every day I question the aspects of a 9-5 job, for a cybersecurity major it seems that I would be in a building 99.99% of the time, sitting in a chair. I personally do not like the idea of a job that restricts you to sitting all day, I really like my major but I do not want to spend 40 years sitting. Ever since my junior year of high school, I have been working on various ways to "monetize" or make money so I am quite familiar with most of the methods presented in the videos. While I have taken a more creative approach to monetization and haven't pursued the ones mentioned in the video I do appreciate the drive the people have.

I have often thought about becoming a "digital nomad", I remember watching a video a number of years back of a couple who lived on a sailboat and traveled around the world. The guy actually worked with computers and was able to do all his work remotely from the sailboat. Seeing that video was almost a relief as it shows that not all jobs in my major would require you to be locked to a desk in a single-colored room. With that being said, the sailboat idea really interests me.

If I were to pursue a life of sailing I would take all my classes online, and sell my car, and other personal belongings to hopefully fund the cost of a boat. I would probably be able to get a really small one but at least it's something. To have a revenue stream I would try and get remote jobs that relate to my major and pay well, I would also incorporate some of the things mentioned in the videos to diversify my income.

In my mind, I feel that it could be successful. I would just have to work really hard and maybe I could even have the chance to upgrade and get a larger boat. I think if I really hustled I could possibly make $100,000+ a year. I remember watching videos of people who took multiple remote positions and had 2-3 jobs at once, who knows maybe I'd try that out.

I would love to sail to the Caribbean and put the anchor down in shallow waters. The teal water there is like nothing I have ever seen before, I really enjoy it. I hope one day to live somewhere tropical, but for now, I do not know what the future holds. I will try my hardest to get there.

[claywenz]

Meetings & Events

This week I have gained a deeper understanding of the Meetings and Events industry. Before researching, I had greatly simplified the effort and resources needed to successfully hold a meeting/ event. Watching the setup timelapse video shed some light on how many people are involved when setting up a large corporate gathering. I originally expected to see maybe 2-3 people working on the setup but to my surprise, there were dozens, even with matching uniforms.

After seeing the video I am now wondering how much time and effort needs to be put into a large event like a concert or for example the Super Bowl. I think going forward I will be more aware of the people working hard in the background at such events, so often we glance over their hard work. One event that must have required great setup was Kanye West's DONDA 2 performance. Regardless of the controversy that may surround him, I think we can still look at the performance and notice the complexity within. Every scene from the live performance looks like a scene from a movie.

I personally don't think I am capable of being a successful event planner. A job like that requires a very detail-oriented person and I am definetly not a good candidate. Watching the video of Jove Meyer setting up a wedding in NYC allowed me to see how detailed events like these need to be. Since a wedding is a very special occasion there can be no details lacking, I really liked how he included envelopes on each of the guest's plates.

A career in this industry doesn't particularly interest me. I do appreciate the hard work done by the men and women in the Meetings & Events industry but I cannot see myself doing it. If I have any personal events of my own in the future I would definitely like to be a part of the planning process but would definitely need someone more qualified to assist me. Overall the industry is very interesting and I wholeheartedly appreciate the level of detail that people put into creating experiences that most people would simply take at face value.

[claywenz]

HOTEL INDUSTRY

From what I have seen it would be challenging to start your own hotel as of 2023. The founders of great hotel chains started their empires long ago, of course, there is always the opportunity to start now but the current climate seems very difficult to do so. Contrary to most hotels today, my own would be focused on the experience rather than prioritizing profit. My vision of a hotel is a place where people from all over the world are interacting with one another, I would host a variety of events to facilitate this.

The hotel industry is definitely appealing to me; however, if I were to start my own hotel it would most likely be in a different country. I would build it somewhere tropical and include Spanish architectural styles. I would also like the hotel to have somewhat of an open concept. Each room would have large screen doors that could be opened to let the light and air in, as well as a large balcony looking at the surroundings.

I would also like to include a garden or something similar near my hotel. The garden could grow different fruits/ vegetables that could be introduced with the meals offered. Another small detail that would add a lot of character would be letting vines grow on the side of the building. Having a good balance between nature and comfort at my hotel would make it something special.

If I could spend a week in any hotel it would definitely be somewhere in Spain. One place I had in mind was the el Rey Moro Hotel in Sevilla. The hotel definitely has aspects that are similar to the ideas listed previously. The vines and plants give a sense of comfort that words cannot really describe, it's just a vibe that I truly enjoy. I attached a picture of the hotel below, it is simply amazing.

[claywenz]

HOSPITALITY & AVIATION INDUSTRY

From watching the documentary I have learned that a career in aviation can be rewarding, demanding, competitive, and very stressful at times. There are a lot of working parts in this industry and many people have to fill these roles from pilots to baggage handlers. I am personally not interested in a career in aviation and am set with my current major. I do not have plans to contemplate this further but I do appreciate the hard work that the men and women in aviation do, it is truly awesome.

The lifestyle looks pretty fast-paced with little time to relax, you would be all over the world (literally). I do like the idea of being able to see the world and get paid for it; however, I feel that I would much prefer to stick to a specific area rather than be on the move constantly. It seems like there is some risk involved with the aviation industry, not even from flight hazards but mainly from the state of the economy. In recent history, the aviation and hospitality industry took a big hit from covid, and even before COVID happened the people in the documentary were talking about how you shouldn't invest in airline stock.

I would want job security and don't know if I could work for a place that doesn't offer set-in-stone job assurance. From viewing the documentary I feel that the physical risks (bodily harm, death, and illness) are somewhat manageable. I was a little surprised to find out that the main issue facing the industry is making a profit. But if the aviation industry has been around for 75+ years I'm sure they have worked out a good amount of the physical risks through that time.

I have no worries about the safety of air travel. I am mainly astonished that these companies can stay in business with such low margins (similar to cruise liners). One big takeaway from this week for me was in regard to the airline tickets. I feel that after watching the documentary I have been given the knowledge of how airliners conduct their ticket sales and I will personally be more aware when buying tickets (Ex: buying tickets way in advance, checking around for various prices, using miles rewards programs). Overall this has been a great week, I feel that I have expanded my knowledge about the Aviation industry and am looking forward to learning more!

[claywenz]

Choose to Cruise

The cruise industry generates a good majority of its income from cabin sales and purchases made on board. On a cruise ship, there can be many different experiences passengers can attend, some examples include specialty restaurants, casinos, and art shows. Typically these experiences cost money to attend or have some sort of bar access which can also help generate money for a particular cruise ship. Offering more experiences that a passenger could attend typically means more oppourinites for a cruise liner to make money, of course keeping in mind the cost of offering a wide variety of events must be accounted for.

From the documentary Cruise Inc. Big Money on the High Seas, we see how hotels, restaurants, casinos, theatre, art, entertainment, and tour excursions are integrated into a singular industry. As stated in the previous section, a cruise ship seeks to offer a wide variety of activities a passenger can do, and the monetization of these activities generates a substantial amount of money. The cruise industry tries to accommodate all types of passengers from many age ranges and backgrounds by implementing as many attractions as they can within the limited space they have on board. When I look at the water slides I can easily identify who their target audience is. The cruise liner's goal, in the end, is to reach maximum capacity and to do that they must be able to be appealing to all demographics.

The cruise industry can provide local communities with great business and economic opportunities. From the documentary, some of these communities seem to have become almost entirely reliant on the cruise industries, which may have some negative consequences in the future. Cruise ships can also impact local communities' environments, they produce far more emissions than cars and can harm aquatic life with their pollutants. I personally haven't considered any issues with safety/ security at sea, from my prior knowledge and experience they seem to be fairly on top of safety/ security and the documentary further cements my beliefs as the crew have weekly training and equipment inspection.

I had never heard of Norovirus before watching the documentary or just how many Americans have it each year (roughly 23 million at the time of the documentary). From my research, COVID-19 has a higher mortality rate than Norovirus, both typically affecting older people more than younger individuals. With the increased use of social media, I feel that COVID-19 has been in the news headlines way more than Norovirus which is probably one of the biggest differences between the two viruses. Overall I enjoyed learning about the cruise industry and feel that I have expanded my understanding of the inner workings of Cruise Liners and all the intricacies that are associated with how they operate.

[claywenz]

Spiritual Pilgrimages and Adventure Travel

The concept of Spiritual Pilgrimages and Adventure Travel has always interested me. I have never been outside of the United States and my previous attempts to travel abroad never worked out. From watching both I'll Push You and Mitty the shortness of life stuck out to me. I often get attached to my schoolwork and can lose track of time, days turn into weeks and weeks into months. A trip where I could experience true adventure is something that I've always wanted and would be a nice disconnect from the daily grind.

A destination I would travel to would be the Caribbean, I would love to visit numerous islands and learn about the rich culture of each one while enjoying the landscape. Staying within a couple miles of the beach would be a necessity. A little shack right on the water would even be fine. The crystal clear water and teal atmosphere have regularly been at the center of my dreams.

Returning from such a trip I would surely be a changed person. Experiencing an atmosphere that almost perfectly contrasts my current one would defeintly make me think about my future and my lifestyle. The picture can never amount to the real thing, just like in Mitty where the famed photographer Sean O'Connell put down his camera to take in a rare sighting of a snow leopard. Sean would rather live in the moment, giving legitimacy to the fact a picture can never amount to the real experience.

One of the main motivators to make this journey is that I am young. I am capable of doing many active things and would like to visit places while I am still in my physical prime. From my personal experience, there can be a point where you put something off for too long that it ultimately will never happen, I wouldn't want that to be the case for a place I've wanted to visit for so long. It would be nice to go during one of my winter breaks as an escape from the harsh winters of Michigan. In the end, I would hope to gain a better appreciation for nature and time from a trip like this. Being exposed to nature can make you truly appreciate it, far too often our view can be clouded by the concrete and brick obstructions that we subject ourselves to.

[claywenz]

Economic Impacts of Tourism

The responsibility of managing tourism for a particular area ultimately lies with the government. The government is in a position to mandate certain procedures for tourists to follow, limit the amount of tourism, and even disallow it entirely. An example of government intervention can be seen in the Galapagos Islands where tourists had put such a strain on the ecosystem that the UN classified it as "endangered". The local government got involved and limited the amount of time tourists could spend in the area and created strict procedures for them to follow.

Tourism allows for the economic, cultural, and even political exploration of areas. While some people may solely blame businesses for exploiting the climate of a certain area, it is also important to note how the government fits into the picture. As mentioned in the previous paragraph the government's decision ultimately determines how tourism will take place. History presents us with many cases of local officials of a foreign nation being bribed by large corporations seeking to further their business. Whoever takes the money is of course at fault but the government can also be at fault if there are not proper checks and balances in place to prevent situations like this from occurring.

I personally believe in the importance of checks and balances; however, I am in no position of power to implement them in foreign countries where they may be lacking. A more realistic approach to situations like these would be to start at the ground level, an idea I had was to create U.S.-based policies that help shape better travelers. An example of this could be requiring any U.S. citizens to take lessons/ courses about a country they plan on visiting. Having a better understanding of a country's government, culture, and language could help establish better foreign relations and limit the amount of cultural, economic, and even political exploitation that a country may face.

Exploitation happens every day, there most likely wont be a day where it doesn't happen. However, we can create social change that helps limit the negatives of tourism and the various forms of exploitation that come with it. We can educate ourselves about the country we plan on visiting and take time to understand their culture and what is acceptable / what isn't. As travelers, we represent the U.S. but we also represent ourselves, taking time to better understand one another can lead to surprising results and help contribute to a more connected world.

Below are some of the positives and negatives of tourism

Positives of Tourism:

Exposes people to new cultures and ideas

Creates jobs in areas where employment may be hard to come by

Tourism can bring in money to a particular area and help promote the development of the country

Negatives of Tourism:

Local inhabitants and governments could be exploited for financial/ personal gain

Tourism generates quite a bit of pollution, especially cruise ships

Tourism can contribute to local cultures being exploited for money

[claywenz]

AGENCIES (Global, Federal, State, Local)

After watching the videos for class I feel that my views on international law have become more cemented. LockedUpAbroad Bangladesh and Brokedown Palace both illustrated how messy international law can be sometimes. The films also highlighted language and even cultural barrier problems. A specific scene that encapsulates these problems was in Brokedown Palace when the two girls first arrived at the prison, they were tricked into taking fruit, and when the guard noticed this she quickly rushed over to the girls speaking words that they couldn't understand. Luckily a Jamaican prisoner instructed one of the girls to get on her knees and ask for mercy; however, the other girl was not so lucky as she didn't understand the cultural norms. Before watching the videos I believed that prisoners from other countries were treated differently, possibly having their own prison in their embassy, but I was quite wrong. The embassy seems to only want to get involved when there is a lot of movement around a certain person's release almost like it's a popularity contest and the prize is someone's release. A real-life example that illustrates this "popularity contest" was with Brittney Griner a WNBA player who was in Russia when she was convicted of a crime. Brittney has been released thanks to the popularity surrounding her increment; however, Paul Whelan a former U.S. marine remains in Russia after more than 4 years of being held. I feel that TSA has a very important role in keeping mass transit safe and from my personal experience traveling in the U.S. they seem to do a pretty thorough and adequate job. Travelers and Tourists have a responsibility when traveling abroad, they should keep in mind the cultural and language normalities of any country they visit because it could lead to people being offended or even imprisonment in some cases. The most interesting and surprising part of these films were how strict the countries' laws were when it came to narcotics. In both films, the line "set an example" came up quite frequently and it really demonstrates the zero-tolerance against narcotics and how in certain circumstances people can be put to death. It makes me question if the U.S.'s laws on illicit substances are tame compared to that of other countries. Another thought that comes to mind is international standards for narcotics laws, it would also help prevent messy situations that can arise with international law. Overall I enjoyed both films and feel that I have learned quite a good amount about international laws, agencies, and embassies.

[claywenz]

Human Trafficking

After watching Human Trafficking I became aware of the true number of people who fall victim to it each year. I knew it existed and have even heard first-hand stories from people visiting foreign countries who have witnessed it. However, I never knew the true brutality of it and the movie can only go so far as to depict the horrors. Considering the U.S. has the highest GDP among all the nations of the world it does not surprise me that it is the number one offender. Within the film, we get an accurate illustration of how the wealthy fuel human trafficking as they are willing to spend enormous sums of money on sick desires. I feel that the hospitality industry definitely has a responsibility in situations like these, the process of human trafficking is a very intricate one which involves many parties in different locations. If one chain was broken in the process then people could possibly be spared from the horror. Within the film we see multiple circumstances where people are trafficked through airports in broad daylight (similar to real life), there were many opportunities for people to speak up; however, they did not and with their silence, they only helped the trade continue. One way that came to mind which could help combat human trafficking was spreading awareness on how to identify the signs of trafficking, for example, this could be training provided to staff at airports to notice any herding/shoving/resistance that may occur between people in the airport. Overall, I am thankful that I was able to watch this movie as I feel that I have become more aware of human trafficking in our modern era and the atrocities associated with it.