Ron Whitfield and Dr. Kate Price-Howard are both seasoned hospitality professionals with extensive experience developing, administering and growing successful internship programs. I’ve invited them back on the show to share how YOU can create an awesome internship program for your property.
Dr. Kate Price-Howard has 30 years experience in the fields of hospitality and commercial recreation. She’s held recreation positions on-board cruise ships, hotels, summer camps, psychiatric units, nursing homes, and served as Director of Recreation for several Florida resorts. In 2001, she founded Go Play, Inc., providing recreation consultation to resort and property management companies, corporate team building, and special events. She has taught more than 600 students that have come through her company as recreation interns.
Kate received a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Parks and Recreation Administration, with an emphasis and certification in Therapeutic Recreation, from Florida International University and went on to complete her PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Utah.
In 2013, she accepted a full-time faculty position with Troy University and teaches hospitality students all over the world in an online format.
Ron Whitfield is an Executive General Manager with ResortQuest by Wyndham in Destin Florida. He earned his Associate of Arts Degree from the University of West Florida and a Bachelors of Science in Hospitality Administration from Florida State University with an emphasis in Resort and Club Management.
Ron has been in the Vacation Rental Industry for 22 years. He has had a Community Association Management License for 22 years and has been a Real Estate Broker for 11 years.
Ron enjoys working to further the the vacation rental industry. He is passionate about improving the experience of guests of owners, team building, employee development and teaching and mentoring College Interns.
Previous Episodes
Dr. Kate Price-Howard
Ron Whitfield
Lodging Econometrics has tracked the hotel industry since 1998. Its global database includes new-hotel pipelines as well as renovations and brand conversions. Hotel franchisers once eager to launch new brands are focused on converting existing hotels because it’s a faster way to recover revenue lost to the COVID-19 pandemic than through new construction. In Episode 346, Lodging Leaders explores the increasing number of conversions in the U.S. hotel industry and what owners and operators need to consider before repositioning an asset.
In the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., financiers anticipated a swell of distressed hotel businesses. Some raised rescue funds to respond to what they thought was a pending crisis. Though there are financial rescues taking place, the level of such activity is far below what industry advisers and fund managers expected. Commercial real estate investors positioned to act in the early days of the pandemic held off and are now just beginning to unleash their cash hoards totaling billions of dollars. Episode 345 of Lodging Leaders podcast explores the state of capital investment in the hotel industry.