Heads on Beds, Minds on Mission: Developing Campus Hospitality with a Purpose

Bryan Swarthout - Vassar College
Mike Zimmerman - Olympia Development
Sara Masterson - Olympia Hospitality

Many institutions bemoan the lack of quality lodging options adjacent to campus but don’t know where to turn to develop their own high quality hotel solution.

Using The Heartwood Inn at Vassar College as a case study, the team from Vassar College and Olympia Hospitality provide a road map to delivering and managing a unique boutique hotel that is closely tied to the identity of the institution. Their eight-year journey to develop The Heartwood Inn, the Salt Line restaurant and the Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts provide lessons learnt for other institutions, wherever they are on their campus hospitality journey.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the opportunities and challenges of combining pedagogical and commercial programs inside one building.
  2. Develop and maintain a shared design vision during a protracted design and construction timeline.
  3. Manage complex capital projects with limited internal resources.

CPE Available

  • 1.5 Credits: Business Management & Organization