Nemacolin Hospitality Lab, West Virginia University Invite College Students to Explore Hospitality Careers

Family travelers with college-aged kids looking to go into the hospitality industry might want to check out this partnership between Nemacolin and West Virginia University.

The Pennsylvania Laurel Highlands resort just celebrated its first year of Nemacolin Hospitality Lab at the university. The state-of-the-art facility, made possible by Nemacolin and the Hardy family, elevates hospitality education and hands-on training, becoming a national example of how luxury hospitality and educators can work together to create ready-to-go graduates.

© Nemacolin

During its first year, the lab had a 100 percent job and internship placement rate for experiential learners in the lab. Graduates enter the workforce prepared, confident and experienced. Nemacolin Hospitality Lab offers students a strong bridge between industry and academia by working with industry professionals, cutting-edge interactive tools and hands-on experiences. Students have the chance to engage with luxury hospitality leaders to deliver work that matters to real clients, which helps them gain confidence and sets them up for long-term success.

This partnership commits to helping students find their passion for hospitality, and has even elevated WVU as a leader in hospitality education. Students at the university study the industry as well as gaining experience through consulting, auditing, presenting and leading projects across the region.

“The Nemacolin Hospitality Lab has transformed the way our students learn and lead. This partnership gives them real experience, real responsibility, and real opportunities,” said Meridith Balas, Ph.D., director, Nemacolin Hospitality Lab. “As someone who grew up in the Laurel Highlands region, it means a great deal to contribute to work that strengthens both our students and the place that shaped me. Watching our students grow into confident, career-ready professionals has been the most meaningful part of this work.”