PILLSBURY INSTITUTE FOR HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ANNUAL REPORT AY 2025 -2026
VISION & MISSION THE LELAND C. AND MARY M. PILLSBURY INSTITUTE FOR HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PIHE), ESTABLISHED IN 2006, IS THE HOME FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
OUR VISION TO BE THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY'S PREEMINENT HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ADVANCING STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, AND EDUCATION.
OUR MISSION PIHE ENGAGES LEADING INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND FACULTY TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH EXPERIENTIAL AND INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ALL ASPECTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
OUR PILLARS OF SUCCESS
ENGAGEMENT
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
EDUCATION
ENGAGEMENT OF STUDENTS, FACULTY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY BOTH AT CORNELL AND WITHIN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH REAL WORLD APPLICATION OF CLASSROOM LEARNING
EDUCATION OF STUDENTS AND ALUMNI
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 04
Leadership
05
Our Board
07
Entrepreneurs in Residence
09
Engagement
10
Events
18
Publications
22
Academic Engagement
24
Membership
28
Media
3
LEADERSHIP
CHRISTINA MCDOWELL, PHD DIRECTOR
JASON GREENBERG, PHD FACULTY RESEARCH DIRECTOR
MICHELLE MAHOOL ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
KAITLYN MANN PROGRAM ASSISTANT
4
OUR BOARD
BOB ALTER '73
DAYNA BLANK
KENNETH M. BLATT '81
TOM BOTTS, P '26
PRESIDENT SEAVIEW INVESTORS, LLC
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER PLAYA HOTELS & RESORTS
PRINCIPAL CARIBBEAN PROPERTY GROUP REAL ESTATE
PRESIDENT, FLEX PAY UPGRADE
ROBERT S. DEVRIES
MONICA S. DIGILIO
ADAM FALCHECK, MPS ’14
CEO, BOARD, HOSPITALITY & LEISURE PRACTICE SPENCER STUART, NORTH AMERICA
FOUNDER & CEO COMPASS ADVISORS, LLC
VICE PRESIDENT DLJ REAL ESTATE CAPITAL PARTNERS
JOSEPH FAN, P '22 PRESIDENT BRIGHTON MANAGEMENT
STACY FISCHER-ROSENTHAL, P '16
JACQUELINE GRACE
TIM HENTSCHEL '01
JASON HERTHEL
PRESIDENT, FISCHER TRAVEL ENTERPRISES, FISCHER-ROSENTHAL CONSULTING
CEO BEAM LIVING
CEO HOTELPLANNER.COM
PRESIDENT & COO MONTAGE INTERNATIONAL
STEVEN HUROWITZ, P '19, P '21 & P '25
ASHWIN KAMLANI, MMH '03
STUART KAPP, MPA, JD '89, P '17 & P '26
CEO HB CAPITAL GROUP
FOUNDER HIGH MARGIN
PARTNER KAPP MORRISON, LLP
KEITH KEFGEN ‘84 CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR AETHOS CONSULTING GROUP
5
OUR BOARD
WARREN H. LEEDS '84, P '14 & P '19 FOUNDER & CEO DARTCOR FOOD SERVICES
RAVI MEHROTRA
ABE NG '95
JESS PETITT '05
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CHIEF SCIENTIST IDEAS REVENUE SOLUTIONS
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO SUSHI MAKI
SENIOR VP INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS HILTON
LELAND C. PILLSBURY '69
JACQUE RILEY
STACY SILVER, P '25
SANDY SOLMON, P '15
MANAGING DIRECTOR, THAYER VENTURES CHAIRMAN, TLG INVESTMENT PARTNERS, THAYER LODGING GROUP
VICE PRESIDENT, BRAND MARKETING ENNISMORE
PRESIDENT SILVER HOSPITALITY GROUP
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO SWEET STREET DESSERTS
JASON SPILLERMAN '92, P '25
TED TENG '79, P '07, P '11
JIMI YUI '79, P '14 & P '16
FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO THE LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD, LTD.
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL YUIDESIGN
PRINCIPAL & CO-FOUNDER VIBRANT DEVELOPMENT GROUP
6
ENTREPRENEURS IN RESIDENCE ABOUT THE PROGRAM Every academic year, PIHE invites successful hospitality entrepreneurs to the Ithaca campus through the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) program. The EIR program enables students to learn through ongoing personal andn professional interaction with entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry. EIRs meet one-onone with students to provide guidance with business development, networking, and career planning.
HOW IT WORKS With support from the StartupTree platform, the students and mentors can seamlessly schedule meetings and manage profiles while engaging with the broader Cornell Entrepreneurship Community. StartupTree is the leading platform and the fastest growing network for university entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial participants including students, alumni, staff, and faculty use StartupTree to access the resources they need and to discover, connect, and collaborate with co-founders, team members, and mentors on their journey.
TOTAL MEETINGS 100+
TOTAL MENTORS 14 7
ENTREPRENEURS IN RESIDENCE
BRANDON BARTON '03
TOM BOTTS, P ‘26
JEN COLLINS ‘99
MIKE GREENE ‘13 CEO & PRESIDENT SKYLARK
CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT BRUTUS BROTH
CO-FOUNDER, MANAUP PRESIDENT, HAWAII VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION
DANIEL LEYVA '14
FELIX LITVINSKY, P '23
MARK MAYNARD '90
JASON SPILLERMAN '92
GRACE VAN HOLLEBEKE '19 (CALS)
ELLEN YUI, P '14 & P '16
CEO BITE
CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT PROCURE IMPACT
FOUNDER & CEO TACO AZUL
FOUNDER & CEO, LUCIA HEAD OF MARKETING AND SERVICES, TERN
PRESIDENT UPGRADE
MANAGING DIRECTOR LAUNCHPAD EZRA
STEVE CHASEN ‘91 (ILR)
FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER DEEP CHANNEL PARTNERS, LLC
KIM HEHIR ‘94
FOUNDER MAYNARD CONSULTING
ELAINE CHON-BAKER
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR MOKJA VENTURES
MELI JAMES '00
PRINCIPAL & CO-FOUNDER VIBRANT DEVELOPMENT GROUP
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL YUI+COMPANY
8
ENGAGEMENTS
ADVISORY BOARD 50+
INDUSTRY 150+
STUDENTS 1,000+
FACULTY 60+
9
EVENTS TOTAL 72 EVENTS & ENGAGEMENTS 3
BOARD MEETINGS
3
COMPETITIONS
4
CONFERENCS
2
ECORNELL WEBINARS
2
END-OF-SEMESTER CELEBRATIONS
14
ENTREPRENEURS IN RESIDENCE
1
FACULTY ENGAGEMENT SESSION
14
GUEST LECTURING
2
INDUSTRY PANELS
3
NETWORKING EVENTS
1
OPEN HOUSE
2
ROUNDTABLES
17
SPEAKER CHATS
3
SPONSORSHIPS
1
WORKSHOPS
10
EVENTS Open House The PIHE invited students, staff, and faculty to join us for our open house event. Students learned about PIHE programming and resources, and how we support entrepreneurship at the Hotel School.
Workshop with Adam Falcheck: Assessing Opportunities: Real-World Hospitality & Real Estate Ventures Adam Falcheck, Vice President at DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, led an interactive, case-based workshop exploring how investors evaluate new hospitality and real estate ventures. Students were introduced to the firm’s evolution and business platform, then worked through four opportunities that were under consideration using an External– Internal Opportunity & Hurdle Framework.
Meet & Repeat Speed Networking Event The Meet & Repeat is a structured networking event designed to connect students with industry leaders through a series of brief, timed interactions. Participants rotate through multiple conversations, refining their elevator pitches while engaging with diverse perspectives from across the hospitality industry. The event’s purpose is to strengthen communication skills, build confidence, and expand professional networks in a focused and efficient format.
11
EVENTS Speaker Chats Our speaker chats featured a mix of engaging formats designed to spark connection and conversation among students and industry leaders. Table talks encouraged small-group dialogue, coffee chats offered relaxed, informal interactions, and fireside chats provided deeper insights from guest speakers. Together, these chat’s created a dynamic space for learning, connection, and inspiration.
Smart Hospitality: The Human - AI Partnership Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the hospitality and leisure industries, creating new opportunities and challenges for guest service and operations. This webinar explored how different customer segments respond to AI solutions, where automation can enhance or replace traditional roles, and how to strike the right balance between technological efficiency and authentic connection.
Hospitality Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI: Technology, People, and the Future of Restaurants Roundtable This roundtable brought together nearly 20 industry voices for an interactive discussion on the evolving role of technology in restaurants. Participants explored how to distinguish meaningful operational impact from experimentation, examined how technology reshaped managers, teams, and frontline work, and considered its influence on guest interactions.
12
EVENTS Conferences Professional development and industry engagement remain a priority for our team. Throughout the year, we attended leading hospitality and higher education conferences to strengthen our expertise, expand our network, and bring new ideas and best practices back to PIHE and our students.
Hospitality’s Next Wave: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Christina McDowell, Associate Teaching Professor and PIHE Director, and hospitality executive turned venture capitalist Leland C. Pillsbury '69 explored the future of hospitality innovation and entrepreneurship. Their conversation examined emerging industry trends, breakthrough technologies, evolving business models, and the leadership skills needed to succeed in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.
AI and the Future of Hospitality & Travel Distribution Panel PIHE hosted a thought-provoking panel exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping hospitality and travel distribution. Industry leaders discussed AI's growing impact on personalization, pricing, booking channels, and the guest experience, while highlighting the opportunities and challenges driving the future of the industry.
12
EVENTS Networking Events PIHE hosted networking events that provided attendees with the opportunity to connect, build professional relationships, and engage with members of the hospitality entrepreneurship community. The events fostered meaningful conversations, encouraged collaboration, and strengthened connections among participants.
Pillsbury Institute’s 20th Anniversary Panel During HEC 101 As PIHE celebrates 20 years, alumni - Jen Collins ’99, Chris Kirby ’14, Kristen McClellan ’12 - returned to reflect on the details that matter most: people, defining moments, and brand. Inspired by “All in the Details,” this panel highlighted the power of mentorship and experiential learning in hospitality.
2nd Annual Women and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Roundtable In collaboration with Marriott International, this roundtable brought together women leaders across the hospitality industry to explore how an entrepreneurial mindset drives innovation, leadership, and organizational impact.
12
EVENTS End of Semester Student Celebration The PIHE concluded the academic semester by hosting its annual End-of-Semester Student Celebration. Students gathered to celebrate a successful year of PIHE programs and events, connect with peers, and enjoy an afternoon of conversation and ice cream while reflecting on the accomplishments of the semester.
12
EVENTS Hospitality Hackathon PIHE and Hilton partnered Deloitte and Qualtrics at Cornell for the 2025 Hospitality Hackathon. The guest experience is at the core of the hospitality industry. Guest feedback can help hotels improve their facilities and/or services, enabling them to remain competitive. This year’s Hospitality Hackathon focused on finding opportunities using real feedback data to improve the guest experience.
13
EVENTS Hospitality Hackathon Congratulations to the 2025 winning teams! Grand Prize ($2,000): Made4U “The Digital Departure Dashboard” – A feature on the Hilton Honors App that allows users to track live folio charges. When looking at guest experience data, the team observed a significant drop off in Stay Score when there is a problem with billing. Having an easier way to resolve these problems prior to guest check out would improve overall satisfaction and drive loyalty. Second Place ($1,000): Chilton “Integrated Pre-Order System for Hilton Restaurants” – Guest satisfaction data shows that negative restaurant reviews double when speed of service is mentioned. A Hilton mobile pre-order system would help to increase overall restaurant satisfaction, while also creating operational efficiencies. Using Conrad as a brand example, the team demonstrated the impact that improving the restaurant experience would have on the overall guest experience. Third Place ($500): Big Red Pineapples “Focus on Digital Key Enhancements” – As a response to guest frustration over issues with Digital Key not working as expected, a different approach to a non-traditional room key can create a frictionless check-in experience. To do this while simultaneously promoting the Co-Brand Amex card, the solution proposed is to use the credit card as a Hilton room key. This would lead to more satisfaction around Honors Benefits, drive cobrand revenue, and continue to have a seamless check-in experience. Best Visualization ($500): Happy Hour “Digital Key Enhancement & Upgrade” – By walking through the customer journey, the team identified the negative impact that Digital Key issues had on the overall guest experience. By upgrading the technology and servers, friction for using Digital Key will be reduced. The team utilized effective visualizations to depict the impact of the solution as well as a proposed process flow. Best Presentation ($500): Dreamweavers “Recovery AI” – Noticing frequent data trends of poor service recovery leading to lower Problem Resolution scores, the team proposed using AI to determine optimal service record action. This solution would be customized to each guest and seamless for the hotel staff. The team included a video walkthrough of their AI platform to show the experience from both the guest and hotel perspective. 14
EVENTS Hospitality Pitch Deck Competition The Cornell Hospitality Pitch Deck Competition is an experiential learning opportunity for student entrepreneurs who are contemplating, starting, or operating an early-stage hospitality-based venture and who are looking to improve their pitching skills, with the potential to earn seed funding for their venture. Congratulations to the 2025 winning teams! First Place ($3,000): ALK A wellness-driven bar and lounge concept blending traditional cocktails with functional highs made with kava, CBD, and adaptogens. Designed for boutique and lifestyle hotels, it offers a turnkey, design-forward experience that elevates social spaces and aligns with modern wellness-minded travelers. Second Place ($1,500): Alfred.AI This bridges premium short-term rentals and full-service hospitality through agentic AI that automates guest experiences and host operations. Third Place ($500): Memento A hospitality platform that unifies hotels, dining, and local experiences into one seamless, personalized journey: helping travelers discover and book authentic stays that feel uniquely their own. Honorable Mention: VerdiFI This combines energy expertise with innovative financing to help hospitality owners reduce costs, cut emissions, and improve valuations—without upfront capital.
15
EVENTS Hospitality Business Plan Competition Held each year, the Hospitality Business Plan Competition is an annual entrepreneurship event in which students form teams to deliver short pitches for their hospitality business concepts. Selected teams advance through multiple rounds of evaluation, ultimately competing for cash prizes. The competition culminates in early spring, during Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC), with a live final round judged by an industry panel, with a top prize of $25,000.
16
EVENTS Hospitality Business Plan Competition Congratulations to the 2026 winning teams! First place ($25,000): Purvis Fish & Chips Team Member: Avery Sheppard, MMH ’26 Purvis Fish and Chips is a waterfront restaurant serving premium, locally sourced fish from a six-generation family fishery, delivering an authentic dining experience rooted in tradition and quality. Second place ($7,500): Reland Team Members: Katelynn Wiseman, MMH ‘26, Miya (Wei) Deng, MMH ‘26, Aiden (Yiming) Chen, MMH ‘26 Reland defines a new category of airport hospitality that transforms layovers into recovery wellness sessions. Third place ($5,000) + Audience Choice Award ($500): Kube & Co. Team Members: Benjamin Gibson ‘29, Michael Dizon-Bumann ’26 Kube & Co transforms iced coffee by turning ice into an enhancement, not a compromise, with flavored coffee cubes that eliminate dilution and improve flavor as they melt. Through café partnerships and direct-to-consumer sales, we deliver a premium experience for consumers while enabling cafés to generate incremental revenue from every iced coffee. Honorable Mention ($1000): Nocturne Team Members: Sophia Wang ‘26, Henry Toll ‘26, Hamid Rezaee ‘26, Evan Ye ‘27 Nocturne is a melatonin-free sleep aid drink with 8 natural ingredients that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep without grogginess, dependency, or rebound insomnia. It works with your body’s own sleep chemistry, so you wake up sharp and ready to perform, not sedated. Honorable Mention ($1,000): Better Tales Team Member: Paulina Alexandra Endara ‘26 Better Tales is a forest-friendly, flavor-first chocolate brand that produces at origin to connect farmers with consumers through hospitality-driven tasting and retail experiences at destination. By capturing value across both ends, it enables better farmer compensation while supporting forest preservation and regeneration.
17
PUBLICATIONS
Hospitality Hackathon winners propose app to cut billing complaints by 25%
Wellness bar proposal wins hospitality pitch deck competition
Entrepreneur in Residence Spotlight: Jason Spillerman ’92, P ’25
Board Member Perspective: ‘Buy now, pay later’ model extends to travel
Entrepreneur in Residence Spotlight: Meli James ’00
Hackathon provides industry exposure for students, fresh ideas for Hilton
Students design wellness solutions for North Carolina community
Hospitality competition winner plans to expand restaurant into a chain
Board Member Perspective: Hospitality leader shares insights on emotion-led brand building
CORNELL BUSINESS NEWS - PIHE
18
PUBLICATIONS
Board Member Perspective: Pro tips for board governance
Budding entrepreneurs learn through experience
CORNELL BUSINESS NEWS - PIHE
19
PUBLICATIONS Lodging Magazine Insert
20
PUBLICATIONS
21
ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON PROFESSOR SERVICE MANAGEMENT
CHRISTOPHER GAULKE
LINDA CANINA
TOM ESTAD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION
LECTURER MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION
JASON GREENBERG
LILLY JAN
HEATHER KOLAKOWSKI
SENIOR LECTURER OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
LAURI KYTOMAA
ASIS MARTINEZ-JEREZ
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR APPLIED ECONOMICS & POLICY
HELEN CHUN
PROFESSOR OF FINANCE ACADEMIC DIRECTOR, CHR
LECTURER OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
SENIOR LECTURER OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
PROFESSOR ACCOUNTING
22
ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
DOUGLASS MILLER
SENIOR LECTURER OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
VINCENT SLAUGH
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGMENT
JESSICA TRACEY
LECTURER SERVICE MANAGEMENT
ANDREW QUAGLIATA
SENIOR LECTURER MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION
SIMONE TANG
GREG RAY
SENIOR LECTURER MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
NEIL TARALLO
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS
SENIOR LECTURER MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
BRADLEY TREAT
VICTOR YOUNGER
VISITING LECTURER MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS
DAVE ROBERTS
LECTURER OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
BRUCE TRACEY
PROFESSOR, AREA CHAIR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS
DIRECTOR OFFICE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
23
MEMBERSHIP All of our Centers and Institutes at the Nolan School of Hotel Administration are privately funded by our generous board member companies. These memberships allow us to continue to provide the very best in academic courses, industry research, and student development opportunities. The Pillsbury Institute stays continually involved with students, entrepreneurs, faculty, alumni, and practitioners through a broad range of activities—programs, events, competitions, internships, and organizations. Join the Pillsbury Institute, where we educate, innovate, and generate the next generation of entrepreneurs. To learn more about our current board members, please visit our website.
Become a Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship Corporate Member
24
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Invitation to become a member of PIHE’s Advisory Board and to attend its two annual meetings Recognition as a member on the PIHE website, including your corporate logo, a link to your company’s website, and the advisory board member’s personal bio and photo Invitations to participate in the following PIHE programming including but not limited to: Networking Socials Semi-final round judge for the Cornell Hospitality Business Plan Competition Industry Roundtables Workshops eCornell Webinars Opportunity to be considered for: An Entrepreneur in Residence A guest lecturer in classes A panelist at internal and external conferences A judge for competitions Ability to share your company's internship and employment opportunities with undergraduate and graduate students Ability to nominate industry leaders for the Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award Opportunity to mentor and interact with undergraduate and graduate students Opportunity to contribute to faculty research
25
MEMBER GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Naming Opportunities: Director: $1 million or $35,000/year Membership: Advisory board membership (pending approval): $10,000/year (suggested three-year commitment) Support the Educational Mission: Guest Speakers and Mentors: $1,000 – $10,000/year Roundtables: $2,500 – $10,000/event Student travel: $1,000 – $15,000/year Hackathons: $20,000 – $50,000/event Experiential Learning: Hospitality Business Plan Competition: $50,000/year Hospitality Pitch Deck Competition: $10,000/year Networking programs and events: $2,500 – $5,000/event Student Treks: $20,000/event Ideation for Impact Workshops: $5,000/event Learn more here.
26
THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS & AFFILIATES
27
MEDIA
Keep up-to-date on Pillsbury Institute news and events by registering for our newsletter. You can also visit and follow us on these channels:
Cornell Business News
28
189 Statler Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 pihe.cornell.edu pihe@sha.cornell.edu