“When I was in high school, I thought there were three jobs in the world: doctors, lawyers, and teachers,” said Caroline Dillabaugh, Director of Impact for Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel and Club Room.
Many more career possibilities came into focus this summer during “Hospitality in the Land,” a day of hospitality-focused exploration developed in partnership with Caroline and hospitality professionals across Cleveland. Open Doors Academy high school scholars participated in discussions and tours at Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel, House of Blues Cleveland, and the Huntington Convention Center, meeting the people whose work shapes each guest’s experience.
Across the three stops, scholars toured kitchens and event spaces, explored public and behind-the-scenes operations, and met professionals in sales, human resources, event management, food and beverage, operations, and guest services.
At Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel, scholars toured guest rooms, kitchens, event spaces, and back-of-house operations, seeing how dozens of departments work together. The hotel’s 97 rooms generate truckloads of laundry, a vivid example of the logistics required to keep a boutique hotel running smoothly.
“I never really thought about how much happens behind the scenes just to make one guest’s stay go smoothly,” said scholar London-Raine W. “That’s a lot of towels!”
That initial glimpse behind the scenes led to a conversation about career growth and paying attention to what every role can teach you.
“I started working in a kitchen after I was working in a front-of-house space because I was interested in the kitchen,” Caroline said. “Having that experience working in a kitchen makes me a better front-of-house person because I understand what those team members are going through. When you understand the different spaces in the industry, your career can be more robust.”
At House of Blues Cleveland, Connor Thompson, Director of VIP, and Haley Betts, Senior Manager of Special Events, led scholars through the green room and down a backstage hallway covered with signatures from Boyz II Men, Vampire Weekend, the B-52s, the Pretenders, and many more. In the VIP room and event spaces, they explained how the venue tailors experiences for concertgoers, bridal parties, wedding guests, and corporate clients.
The day concluded at the Huntington Convention Center, where Burton Miller, Sales & Community Engagement Coordinator and the team showed how events for thousands of people depend on collaboration across sales, event management, operations, food and beverage, marketing, and community engagement.
Together, the three workplaces brought ODA’s High School Plus focus on college and career readiness to life, helping scholars connect their interests and talents with possibilities they may not have considered.
Support Open Doors Academy through Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel
Through the end of September, Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel has selected Open Doors Academy as its Community Love Partner. When you book and complete a stay at Cleveland’s Fidelity Hotel or dine at Club Room, your visit helps support ODA and the experiences that prepare scholars for their futures.
Learn more and book your visit: https://www.fidelityhotels.com/cleveland/offers/community-love/
