Chapter 3: The Statler Hotel: A case study on the evolution of a learning labora
Chapter 3: The Statler Hotel: A case study on the evolution of a learning laboratory
J. Bruce Tracey
J. Bruce Tracey, School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Abstract
The purpose of this case study is to present an overview of the ways in which the Statler Hotel has been leveraged to support and enhance the mission of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. Using a historical lens, this analysis demonstrates the application of and benefits from using a multi-faceted, learning-while-doing instructional design strategy to develop a wide base of operational knowledge and strategic leadership skills that are grounded within a “Life is service” philosophy.
Introduction
The Statler Hotel has played an instrumental role in supporting the educational mission of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration for over 70 years. Since its opening in 1950 as a 36-room inn, to the current 153-room full-service conference hotel, the Statler has served as the hands-on learning laboratory for students to apply and further develop the knowledge and skills that are integrated within the School’s curriculum and directly applicable to real-world industry settings.
The hotel was named after Ellsworth Milton Statler, who attended one of the early industry events that was hosted on campus. Statler built his first hotel in 1907 in Buffalo, New York, and later became one of the most successful and influential US hoteliers of his time. While initially unsupportive, Statler’s public endorsement and financial endowment provided a substantial part of the initial and ongoing funding that secured the future of the School of Hotel Administration, and ensured that the Statler Hotel would remain a centerpiece of the educational program. And perhaps more importantly, Statler’s motto, “Life is service – the one who progresses provides his fellow man and little more, a little better service,” provided the bedrock for the initial and ongoing educational programming.
The Origins: Initial Design Strategy and Program Content
When the School of Hotel Administration was founded in 1922, the concept of a “practice hotel” was a key aspect of the initial programming objectives. As research has now demonstrated (e.g., Tracey, Kavanaugh, & Tannenbaum, 1995; Tracey, Hinkin, Tannenbaum, & Mathieu, 2001; Tews & Tracey, 2009), it is critical to cultivate a supportive context that facilitates the effective transfer and further refinement of the knowledge and skills that are acquired within formal learning settings. Unfortunately, the U.S.’s first higher education program in hotel management lacked the necessary on-campus facilities for promoting its primary mission. Moreover, while the industry’s support – including the American Hotel Association (currently known as the American Hotel and Lodging Association) – for the Hotel School was strong, the same could not be said of the University.
For the first several years, the School did not have its own dedicated space. As s