A Win-Win Relationship Between Horseshoe Bay Resort and Texa Tech University: Part I

Over the years, Horseshoe Bay Resort, a Marriott franchised property, and the RHIM (Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management) program at Texas Tech University has built a close and win-win relationship. On one hand, the resort hotel hires about 25 RHIM students in the summer and a couple interns in the fall and spring to meet its temporary needs in staffing. On the other hand, RHIM students at Texas Tech can gain valuable first-hand operation experience in the resort hotel. How does this relationship work?

Today, I am travelling with two RHIM professors to the Texas Hill Country and learn more about Horseshoe Bay Resort and the students’ work. These professors are Dr. Shane Blum, Chairperson of the Nutrition, Hospitality, and Retailing Department, and Dr. Charlie Adams, Director of Career Center in the College of Human Sciences.

Horseshoe Bay Resort is located in the Texas Hill Country, about 45 minutes away from Austin and 90 minutes from San Antonio. Next to Horseshoe Bay, there are Marble Falls and Fredericksburg, which is a small German-influenced town. The resort has 385 bedrooms, of which 117 are suites and villas. Many of these rooms oversee the gorgeous Lake LBJ and the Texas Hill Country. It has more than 51,000 square feet meeting space and multiple restaurants. The resort also operates three Championship Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Golf courses, full service Marina with pontoon boat, jet-ski, and ski-boat rentals, Bayside Spa, Fitness Center, and a Private Jet Center.

Like most resort destinations, Horseshoe Bay often experiences high and low seasons and may have temporary needs in staffing. Tomorrow, I will meet with some managers and the RHIM students who are doing internships in the resort. I look forward to sharing their experience with you.

References:

The official website of Horseshoe Bay Resort: http://www.horseshoebaymarriott.com/

* The pictures (from the top to the bottom) show: a pool next to the hotel, a corner of the hotel lobby, and the reception area. If you are interested in seeing more pictures of the resort, please visit my Facebook page via www.facebook.com/linchi.kwok

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