Marriott’s Aaron Laurie speaks to the next generation at the University of Guelph

Aaron Laurie, senior director, lodging development for Eastern Canada at Marriott International recently addressed the School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the University of Guelph. Laurie spoke with students in their capstone course about the fundamentals of hotel development. He discussed topics ranging from new-builds, adaptive reuse projects, mixed-use, to conversions. He concluded with a branding recommendation case study.

Established in 1969, the Gordon E. Lang school at U of G has a 50-year legacy of providing student experiences in preparation for careers in an everchanging industry—newly and significantly disrupted with the pandemic—that continues to offer exciting, dynamic, and global learning opportunities at the undergraduate, graduate, executive and professional levels; with over 5,000 alumni working in hotels, restaurants, and tourism businesses worldwide.

Laurie is an alumnus of the University of Guelph with a B. Comm in Hotel and Food Administration, Real Estate. He has worked with Marriott International for close to three years. Before that he worked in various industry roles with companies including Pomeroy Lodging, IFA Hotel Investments, and HVS.