A case study of student projects for industry clients

Published versio

Identifying a competency model for hotel managers

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston UniversityThe purpose of this study was to develop a competency model that incorporates the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes for an outstanding hotel manager based on actual experiences of successful hotel managers. The general managers and director of human resources from each hotel selected three outstanding and three average-performing managers from their respective properties (a total of 18 managers). Over a two-month period, using the behavior event interview process, both superior and average managers were interviewed and asked to describe, in great detail, situations when he or she was particularly effective and situations when he or she was ineffective. The interviews were transcribed and coded using a combination of a validated competency dictionary and thematic analysis. Competencies observed in outstanding managers but not in average performing managers were identified and a competency model was created. An expert panel of senior industry executives validated the findings. In brief, the model includes the following competencies: achievement orientation, information seeking, customer service orientation, organizational awareness, professional expertise, honesty, interpersonal understanding, teamwork, team leadership, analytical thinking, initiative, self-control, self-confidence, self-learning, face- to-face communication, relationship building, optimism and passion

Boston Hospitality Review: Spring 2014

Going to School on University Hotels by Matthew Arrants -- The Food Photography Trend: A Discussion of the Popular Trend and Tips on Taking Great Pictures by Laurel Greenfield -- Back to the Front: Improving Guest Experiences at The Langham, Hong Kong by Michael Oshins -- The Healthy Hotel by John D. Murtha -- Southern New England’s Middle-Skill Gap: Dilemma for the Hospitality Industry by Erinn D. Tucke

Boston Hospitality Review: Spring 2018

Table of contents: Sustainability In Hospitality? How Legality and Authenticity Impact the Rationale for Integrating Sustainable Practices By Christian E. Hardigree, J.D. -- The Digital Future of the Tourism & Hospitality Industry By Martin Zsarnoczky -- Cutting Through the Online Hospitality Clutter, Part II: Best Practices for Paid Digital Marketing By Leora Lanz and Namrata Sridhar -- Blending Theory and Practice: Experiential Learning in Hospitality Curriculum: A Case Study of Student Projects for Industry Clients By Michael Oshins and Joel Brown

Boston Hospitality Review: Winter 2014

The Current State of the New England Lodging Market: New England Falls Short of the Nation in 2013 RevPAR Growth by Rachel Roginsky and Matthew Arrants -- The Fall and Rise of the Travel Agent by Stephen Jermanok -- Roman Ways: The Endurance of Patterns in Travel and Hospitality from Antiquity by Bradford Hudson -- A Conversation with Howard Schultz CEO of Starbucks by Christopher Muller -- Self-Confidence in the Hospitality Industry by Michael Oshin

Boston Hospitality Review: Spring 2013

Lodging Update: Providence, Rhode Island by Rachel Roginsky and Matthew Arrants -- Brand Heritage and Heritage Tourism by Bradford Hudson -- Te Front Desks of Boston by Michael Oshins -- Defining the New Luxury: Perspectives from Industry Leaders by Chekitan S. Dev -- The Ethic of Hospitality by Christopher Muller -- Buffet-Américain by Peter Szend

Boston Hospitality Review: Fall 2015

U.S. Lodging Industry Update – Q2 2015 by Daniel Lesser and Jonathan Jaeger of LW Hospitality Advisors® -- Hotel Crowdfunding Grows Up by Joshua Bowman -- Digital Marketing Budgets for Independent Hotels: Continuously Shifting to Remain Competitive in the Online World by Leora Halpern Lanz and Megan Carmichael -- From Patrons to Chefs, a History of Women in Restaurants by Jan Whitaker -- The Bleacher Bar at Fenway Park: Transforming a Former Indoor Batting Cage Into a Unique Eatery and Bar by Graham Ruggie -- Outrageous by Michael Oshin

Boston Hospitality Review: Fall 2017

Table of contents: Design: A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place: The Application of Feng Shui to Hotels by Ingrid Y. Lin -- Sharing Economy: The hotel industry’s Achilles Heel? Quantifying the negative impacts of Airbnb on Boston’s hotel performance by Makarand Mody, Courtney Suess-Raeisinafchi, and Tarik Dogru -- History: Fragments of the Past: The Exchange Buffet, Building a Business on Trust for 78 Years by Dr. Peter Szende and Jeanne Pak -- Theory: “The Six Touchstones” A Model for Hospitality Students by Christopher C. Muller and Michael Oshins -- Hotels: A (Diamond) Cut Above the Rest: Improving Hotel Operations Based on TripAdvisor Rating Attributes by Suzanne Markham BagneraTable of contents: Design: A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place: The Application of Feng Shui to Hotels by Ingrid Y. Lin -- Sharing Economy: The hotel industry’s Achilles Heel? Quantifying the negative impacts of Airbnb on Boston’s hotel performance by Makarand Mody, Courtney Suess-Raeisinafchi, and Tarik Dogru -- History: Fragments of the Past: The Exchange Buffet, Building a Business on Trust for 78 Years by Dr. Peter Szende and Jeanne Pak -- Theory: “The Six Touchstones” A Model for Hospitality Students by Christopher C. Muller and Michael Oshins -- Hotels: A (Diamond) Cut Above the Rest: Improving Hotel Operations Based on TripAdvisor Rating Attributes by Suzanne Markham Bagner

The Mechanism of Mitochondrial Injury in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Mediated Liver Disease

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is caused by a single mutation in the SERPINA1 gene, which culminates in the accumulation of misfolded alpha-1 antitrypsin (ZAAT) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hepatocytes. AATD is associated with liver disease resulting from hepatocyte injury due to ZAAT-mediated toxic gain-of-function and ER stress. There is evidence of mitochondrial damage in AATD-mediated liver disease; however, the mechanism by which hepatocyte retention of aggregated ZAAT leads to mitochondrial injury is unknown. Previous studies have shown that ER stress is associated with both high concentrations of fatty acids and mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes. Using a human AAT transgenic mouse model and hepatocyte cell lines, we show abnormal mitochondrial morphology and function, and dysregulated lipid metabolism, which are associated with hepatic expression and accumulation of ZAAT. We also describe a novel mechanism of ZAAT-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. We provide evidence that misfolded ZAAT translocates to the mitochondria for degradation. Furthermore, inhibition of ZAAT expression restores the mitochondrial function in ZAAT-expressing hepatocytes. Altogether, our results show that ZAAT aggregation in hepatocytes leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings suggest a plausible model for AATD liver injury and the possibility of mechanism-based therapeutic interventions for AATD liver disease