Graduate Hotels Commits To Educating Aspiring Hospitality Professionals In Expanded Partnership With The Lebron James Family Foundation

“Lifelong learning is a fundamental principle of our brand and the dynamic markets we are located within,” said Kevin Osterhaus, Graduate Hotels, President. “We are honored to be furthering this partnership with our friends at The LeBron James Family Foundation as they continue their incredible commitment to the Akron community. The school we have created with Saira brings best-in-class hospitality education to the heart of this special community. We can’t wait to see what the team brings to life at House Three Thirty and beyond.”

Training Camp

Announced on March 30^th, House Three Thirty is an innovative, multi-use space for I PROMISE families, the Akron community, and global visitors to gather and engage. The unique space offers world-class experiences in dining, retail, entertainment, arts and mentorship. The LeBron James Family Foundation teamed up with Graduate Hotels and Saira Hospitality to create a hospitality school to prepare I PROMISE students, teachers, parents and family members for employment within the space. The program marks an expanded partnership between The LeBron James Family Foundation and Graduate Hotels following the 2020 opening of the I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels, offering transitional housing within the Akron community.

Training Camp equips students with both tactical hospitality and general professional development and life skills. Held in the months leading up to House Three Thirty’s launch, the inaugural program’s curriculum built by both Graduate Hotels and Saira Hospitality melds a complement of skills such as emotional intelligence, communication, leadership and personal brand building with experiential, hands-on learning focused on food and beverage, hospitality service, guest services and operational best practices.

“House Three Thirty was designed to be a place that empowers everyone who walks through its doors, beginning with the Team Members serving their community and training for their futures,” said Michele Campbell, Executive Director of The LeBron James Family Foundation. “Our partnership with Graduate Hotels and Saira Hospitality has allowed us to encourage and employ those within our community to grow their skills and find their passions, all while giving back to the community they love.”

“Having operated in what can be a close-guarded, even competitive non-profit world for eight years, it is exceptionally rare to come across like-minded foundations who seek to learn from each other, to collaborate, to play off each other’s strengths with a common goal. It has been beyond inspiring to work alongside The LeBron James Family Foundation as well as Graduate Hotels, two organizations beautifully aligned by a common desire to educate in order to empower,” said Harsha L’Acqua from Saira Hospitality.

Participants that have completed the inaugural program now have the opportunity to be employed within the recently launched House Three Thirty. The curriculum handcrafted for I PROMISE and The LeBron James Family Foundation will continue to be utilized for future team members at House Three Thirty.

Created for travelers who seek memory-making journeys, Graduate Hotels is a thoughtfully crafted collection of hotels that reside in dynamic university-anchored cities across the U.S. and U.K. Each Graduate property celebrates and commemorates the optimistic energy of its destination and is committed to serving as a contributing part of the neighboring community. Training Camp joins Graduate Hotels’ larger commitment to supporting educational resources both within and beyond the hospitality industry. In early 2023, Graduate launched Graduate Academy, which provides all hotel associates with a range of cost-free online degree programs and professional certifications to support their educational journeys.

For more information on Training Camp, please visit: https://www.graduatehotels.com/training-camp/, or for more information on Graduate Hotels, please visit: www.graduatehotels.com.