Embedded Files
Spring 2025... The semester began with an opening social including 'Scrambled Legs' breakfast and a hike to Hole in the Rock at Papago Park. Treasurer Shawn Powell facilitated a virtual event on Extended Travel on a Budget. TSA provided a welcome booth at the semesterly career fair. TSA members worked the Fan Shop at the WM Phoenix Open.A Spring fireside focusing on the power of professional organizations was enjoyed at the Omni Hotel Tempe at ASU, with AZLTA, HSMAI, and AAITA represented. TSA members enjoyed a 2.5 day trip to Camp Verde to study adventure, wine, agro-rural, wildlife and archaeological tourism. TSA was a finalist in the Pitchfork Awards' 'Outstanding Undergraduate Student Organization (Downtown). The year concluded with a Night of Recognition.
Fall 2024...Karli Anderson (P, front right), Hayden Sillers (VP, center), Jeffrey 'Jaiden' Hill (S, back right), Shawn Powell (T, back left), and Adriana Colbert (Mktg Dir, front left)) served two semesters as officers. The semester began with an opening social including a board game night at the ASU Post Office building. TSA offered a warm welcome at the semesterly career fair. Chairperson Nicole Sanchez facilitated a virtual event on cruise tourism. The Fall day trip included an excursion to Payson where students met the destination management organization (DMO), learned at Payson Pro Rodeo's contribution to visitation and enjoyed a picnic lunch and panel all about the changing state of Short Term Rentals (STR) markets in Northern Arizona at the Martin Homestead. This set of officers helped co-plan and co-facilitate the first ever ARIZONA HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM COLLEGE STUDENT SUMMIT. TSA members volunteered at NASCAR Championships as a much-loved annual fundraiser, and enjoyed a Fall Fireside at advisor Claire's home focusing on the documentary 'The Last Tourist.' Dr. Martha Honey, co-founder of CREST and contributor to the documentary Zoomed in for context.
Spring 2024...Eleanor Brillo (P), Jeneca Kostad (VP), Hayden Horowitz (S), Zade Alzoubi (T), and Jackie Wilson (Mktg Dir) serve their second semester as officers. The semester began with an opening social including a look at Coyotes Hockey and a free skate. A virtual mixer was hosted for online students to meet one another and ground members. President Eleanor facilitated a virtual event on trailblazing careers in public service. TSA hosted a Donuts with Disney event, and provided a welcome booth at the semesterly career fair. A number of TSA members worked at Innings Festival. Merestone Events hosted TSA members for a tour of their expansive facility. TSA Treasurer Zade Alzoubi planned and welcomed TSA members to his internship site, the newly opened Caesar's Republic for a tour and panel discussion. TSA members enjoyed a 2.5 day trip to Cottonwood and Jerome to study adventure, historical, dark and wine tourism. The year concluded with a Night of Recognition at the Multicultural Center of Excellence.
Fall 2023...Eleanor Brillo (P), Jeneca Kostad (VP), Hayden Horowitz (S), Zade Alzoubi (T), and Jackie Wilson (Mktg Dir) serve their first semester as officers. Club count was 70 members with a record number of online members. The first event of the semester was both exciting and unique, including a tour of the newly-opened Omni Hotel Tempe @ ASU and a reception afterwards. TSA members enjoyed a day trip to Lake Pleasant where they paddle-boarded and kayaked with Go Paddle AZ, enjoyed a talk with a ranger, park park supervisor marina manager, and had lunch at Dillon's on the Bayou. Some students launched themselves into air on H2Whoa, and the day concluded with a meet-the-captain and flora/fauna tour on Lake Pleasant Cruises. Four TSA members and Claire enjoyed the AzLTA Atlas Gala and recognition for scholarships earned. A group of TSA members enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at Mesa Arts Center with the help of SCRD alum Jalyssa Gasmen. A Fall Fireside focusing on travel stories was enjoyed, including some insider tips with Mer Norwood of SheMovesPhoenix. Members of TSA ran/walked in Sparky's Challenge. NASCAR was yet another cycle of great fundraising for TSA. Members learned about responsible tourism with the help of Lena Allen of Arizona Office of Tourism, Andrew Leary of Leave No Trace, and Matt Caldwell of Tread Lightly. In November, TSA hosted a Study Abroad Luncheon, where members learned about tourism-related options, talked to Marlie Christopherson from her study abroad in Spain, and the various faculty who facilitate these unique learning opportunities. The semester came to a close with Jackie Wilson taking home the Doug Yonko Scholarship at the annual golf tournament and members of TSA attending an ASU Men's Basketball Game with 942 Crew.
Marketing Director Jackie Wilson, Treasurer Zade Alzoubi, Secretary Hayden Horowitz, VP Jeneca Kostad, Prez Eleanor Brillo
Spring 2023...Jeneca Kostad (P), Kylie Parker (VP), Jordyn Hoff (S), Zade Alzoubi (T), and Eleanor Brillo (Mktg Dir) serve their second semester as officers and were dubbed 'The Dream Team' by Erin and Claire for their harmonious, pro-active, helpful collective group leadership styles. Club count was 65 members. The first event of the semester was called 'Scrambled Legs' and took place on a perfectly cool and sunny day at Papago Park, hiking to Hole in the Rock. A variety of TSA members took part in facilitating the lead up to and day-of Super Bowl events. Mike Harrison from CRR, a Lifestyle Company, gave students an update on traditional and nontraditional lodging at the virtual Lodging Trends event. TSA tried a new largescale fundrasier in Spring 2023, volunteering at Innings Fest in Tempe. Members enjoyed a virtual event all about the burgeoning sector of medical tourism. Erin helped connect TSA members for a behind the scenes tour of Sky Harbor Airport. TSA officers greeted members at a welcome both at the semesterly Tourism & Events Career Fair downtown. The club hosted a brewery tour and alumni event, and took members along historic Route 66, including taking the railway to Grand Canyon National Park, meeting Xanterra executives, and exploring Williams and Bearizona. TSA members got to enjoy a Hyatt Lunch & Learn. TSA won Outstanding Undergraduate Club (downtown campus) for 2022-2023 school year! TSA concluded the semester with an ice cream sundae-themed Night of Recognition where Eleanor Brillo took home the Golden Pineapple Award.
Fall 2022...Jeneca Kostad (P), Kylie Parker (VP), Jordyn Hoff (S), Zade Alzoubi (T), and Eleanor Brillo (Mktg Dir) serve their first semester as officers. Club count reaches 70 members. The semester kicked off with a bowling social. A semester-long focus on inclusive and accessible tourism was planned and implemented, and the first event in the series was Cross Border Tourism with Marisol Vindiola from Visit Tucson. The club took a day trip to Strawberry/Pine, Arizona and enjoyed a tour of the Strawberry Inn and session with the Eilers, a tour and demo and the Pine Creek Lavender Farm, ate lunch at Old County Inn, and hiked Rainbow Bridge after a ranger talk at the state park. Members got amazing sunset-backed professional headshots and a lovely open air visit at the Rooftop Photo Opp event at The Cambria. Ed Salvato lead a workshop on LGBTQ+ tourism as a growing market. Club members volunteered at the NASCAR Championships and partook in Sparky's Fun Run. A number of TSA members volunteered at the Phocuswright Conference. Treasurer Zade Alzoubi won the Doug Yonko Memorial Scholarship from the AZLTA. After fundraising over $5,000 for adaptive backpacks from WeCarryKevan.org, members enjoyed a movie night and chance to virtually meet author and advocate Kevan Chandler.
4th Gen Officers of TSA (2022-2023): (left to right) Zade Alzoubi (Treas.), Jordyn Hoff (Sec.), Jeneca Kostad (Pres.), Kylie Parker (VP), Eleanor Brillo (Mktg. Dir.)
3rd Gen Officers of TSA (Spring 2022): (left to right) Jeneca Kostad (T, 2nd Sem), Morgan Navas (S), Valerie Brenes (P), Nina Alvarez (VP), Christa Oakley (Mktg. Dir)
Spring 2022...Valerie Brenes (P), Nina Alvarez (VP), Morgan Navas (S), and Christa Oakley (Mktg Dir) serve their second semester as officers as Jeneca Kostad graciously steps up to fill the Treasurer role. The club returns to an in-person Spring Social, this time at Snakes & Lattes where members played board games, ate appetizers and got their hands on the official TSA crewnecks designed and implemented by Christa and Nina with the help of Carlene Konrath. Members participated in 'Palentines' to get to know each other better, and experienced an in-person Tourism Career Fair for the first time in two years after a customized Career Fair Prep Session with Kristopher Adams of the W.P. Carey School of Business. Members once again volunteered at the NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway to earn money for the club's treasury. The club's official membership reached 80 members. The Spring Alumni Mixer featured Breanna Smith, Event Coordinator at ASU. The Spring Fireside on Innovation in Tourism & Lodging with EV Hotel's Executive Team--Ken Patel, Jeff Driskel and Nancy Patel was a wonderful welcome back to a hybrid event with in-person networking at the Hilton Garden Inn after the talk. Members enjoyed the 'Uncorked' event on vinitourism with the General Manager of Oak Creek Vineyard. At last, a return to 'non-virtual' travel for TSA...an itinerary in Southern Arizona that included San Xavier del Bac, Tombstone, Benson, and Kartchner Caverns State Park. The Spring semester ended with an Intern Talk with Alum Genna and ready-to-graduate TSA members Curt, Samantha, and Raquel. Movie Night II met members with perfect weather and a showing of The Grand Budapest Hotel. The second annual Night of Recognition celebrated the club's growth, members, and leaders.
Fall 2021...Valerie Brenes (P), Nina Alvarez (VP), Joel Samuel Aragon (Treas), Morgan Navas (S), and Christa Oakley (Mktg Dir) serve their first semester as officers. The club begins with virtual events and then pivots toward adding live, outdoor events as the semester progresses. Exploring the tourism/conservation connection in Cambodia via a virtual trip, a workshop to assist members in amping up the effectiveness and 'travel' factors in their resumes and LinkedIn profiles start off the Fall Semester. Club members enjoy a virtual trip to Tokyo, an outdoor hotel-inspired movie night, and a fireside event that allowed members to consider nontraditional paths in lodging with two entrepreneurs in the independent hotel and Airbnb investment spaces. Members once again volunteers at the NASCAR Championships at Phoenix Raceway and earned just under $4,000 for the club's treasury. The club's official membership reached 60 members. The semester concluded with a workshop for success when traveling solo and a chance for a few members of FCCLA to meet Ken Patel, CEO of EV Hotel and members of his executive team.
Fall 2021 Officers of TSA: (left to right) Joel Samuel Aragon (T, 1st Sem), Morgan Navas (S), Valerie Brenes (P), Nina Alvarez (VP), Christa Oakley (Mktg. Dir)
2nd Gen Officers of TSA: (left to right) Kailey McCann (T), Savannah Sampson (S), Ashley Cullings (VP), Paige Corbin (P)
Spring 2021...Despite most events being forced into digital formats, the club grows to 67 members. An unprecedented number and variety of digital events unfold throughout the semester including outdoor lodging, ecotourism, leadership, and Disney-related events. TSA enjoys two virtual trips this semester, one a coffee experience in Colombia, and another to Marrakesh, Morocco. Thanks to the contacts and work of advisor Erin Schneiderman, TSA members are involved in leading volunteers at multiple Arizona Vaccination sites resulting in 15 club members participating in over 5,000 hours of service during an unprecedented time. Erin also connects the club to the Phoenix Raceway and TSA members FINALLY get the chance to see each other at an outdoor event, NASCAR, where 45 members raised over $3,000 for the club treasury through providing gate and hospitality service at the 3-day event. The club hosts its first ever Night of Recognition, a hybrid event on the Tempe Campus. At this event, members are recognized for their attendance of events, participation in the vaccination sites, and outgoing officers 'pass the pineapple' to the incoming officer team. Val Brenes wins the Golden Pineapple Award.
Fall 2020...Professor Erin Schneiderman is added as a co-advisor. Newly elected officers Paige Corbin, Ashley Cullings, Kailey McCann and Ryan Lerner spend the summer planning and strategizing about how to operate a club when no one can meet in person. They make a decision to take full advantage of Zoom to create digital events and expand the reach of the club beyond Arizona and support members in coping with the unprecedented changes faced by individuals and the industry. Chair positions are created, and Valerie Brenes, Dana Rowitz, Raquel Bigman, and Haley Goddard are recruited to fill these roles. President Paige Corbin creates a new TSA website that revolutionizes how stakeholders can interact with the club and obtain information. Savannah Sampson is elected as Secretary per stepping down of prior secretary. A new Marketing Director position is created and Savannah Stratman is elected to the position for a semester. She plans and implements a Fangtastic Fireside with 5 leaders spanning the majors at SCRD. Despite the pandemic, the club reaches the 50-member mark and implements 10+ events. TSA embarks on its first digital club trip to Ireland. Club members enjoy a virtual Disney Networking Event with senior executive Loretta Gordon.
Spring 2020....TSA is off to a strong start reaching 45 members. The first inklings of the pandemic hit students while the first meeting and social event of the semester is underway. Questions about what the impact will be are on everyone's minds. As the semester unfolds, members tour Talking Stick Resort, spread the word about studying tourism with Arizona high school students, interact with Marriott and the Phoenix Area Revenue Managers (PARM) and host a 'Speed Networking Event' with 30 industry professionals at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix. The pandemic hits in full force during spring break in March. The club trip to Biosphere, Kartchner Caverns, and Tombstone in Southern Arizona is canceled, and all remaining activities are moved to a digital format. New officers wonder what the next school year will bring in terms of club activities and membership. The club votes to slash dues to $10 to make it possible for members to remain involved despite hardships associated with the pandemic.
Fall 2019...Membership reaches 36 members. The club holds a 'spooky fireside' at the Hampton Suites focusing on the club industry thanks to the Country Club at DC Ranch and the Club Managers Association of America (Greater SW Chapter). Club members travel to Page, Arizona thanks to member Raquel Bigman's community connections, a meaningful interchange with entrepreneurs within in the Navajo Nation sheds light on overtourism and tourism stakeholder relations in Antelope Canyon and Horsehoe Bend. This trip enhancing tourism learning and creates lasting memories for all involved. Club members look forward to more trips of this nature--not realizing what was just around the bend...
Spring 2019...TSA officially launches with Brooks Reece, Sophia Colon, Mackenzie Domroe, and Shiyu Joe Qiao as founding officers, agreeing to a 3-semester startup term to ensure the club gets off the ground. Senior Spencer Bienstock serves as chair of the startup process. The club reaches a total of 31 members in its first semester of existence. The club establishes a presence at various engagement fairs, has its first social, a 'not-quite-camping-trip' in Claire's backyard, hikes Devil's Bridge and learns about ecotourism at a Sedona lodge, hosts a fireside at Level 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn with Executive VP David Drennon of the AZLTA, sponsored by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (AZ Chapter).
Fall 2018...TDM student Brooks Reece approaches Claire McWilliams to ask about club creation, a group of interested students is assembled to draft a constitution and bylaws, register the club, and create a mission, logo, seek out the SCRD Director for seed money, and plan for recruiting students, including having every meeting include Zoom to give members maximum opportunity to participate no matter what campus or learning mode.
Founders: President Brooks Reece, Advisor Claire McWilliams, VP Sophia Colon, Treasurer Mackenzie Domroe, Launch Committee Chair Spencer Bienstock, and Secretary Shiyu 'Joe' Qiao.
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