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The APC winning team: Zoe Vera Acain, Hannah April Dayrit, John Ace Ren-Mar T. Hitosis, Learah Grace C. Magboo, Laurensia Renny Wibisono, and Reanne Nicole Tangalin – Image Credit CoStar
In its continued worldwide support of hospitality, tourism and real estate higher education, CoStar Group’s SHARE Center held four student market competitions in November 2024.
In total, 44 teams of three to six students, with the assistance of their faculty advisors, selected a market and were provided with a standard set of reports and data. Each competition was held via Zoom, with senior level industry professionals serving on the panels of judges.
“We were thrilled to host our 10th annual Student Market Study Competitions,” said Duane Vinson, director of the CoStar Group SHARE Center. “It was evident how much hard work and many hours that the students put in to analyzing the vast amount of data and information. Offering brilliant insights, each team represented themselves, their program, and their school with honor and distinction.”
Read more on each competition below, with more quotes from faculty advisors and students who participated in the events.
STR & ICHRIE Asia Pacific Student Market Study Competition (1 November)
Out of nine teams participating, Far Eastern University Manila (Philippines) achieved first place in this competition.
1. Far Eastern University Manila, Philippines
2. Republic Polytechnic, Singapore
3. Beijing Hospitality Institute, China
Winning team: Zoe Vera Acain, Hannah April Dayrit, John Ace Ren-Mar T. Hitosis, Learah Grace C. Magboo, Laurensia Renny Wibisono, and Reanne Nicole Tangalin
Faculty Advisor: Ryan Joseph Calinao
“The STR & ICHRIE Asia Pacific and Global Competitions provided an excellent opportunity for our students to apply their knowledge gained through the CHIA certification from areas such as hotel industry analytics, covering both geographical and non-geographical categories, mathematical fundamentals, benchmarking, interpreting data, and analyzing performance reports,” said Ryan Joseph Calinao, faculty advisor at FEU Manila. “It proved to be an enriching experience for both the advisor and the students, fostering a collaborative learning environment.”
STR & ICHRIE EMEA Student Market Study Competition (8 November)
“Winning the STR & ICHRIE EMEA Market Study Competition is truly an honor for us,” said Helena Pérez Pérez, faculty advisor at the CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy. We appreciate the CoStar Group SHARE Center for organizing the competition and everyone who supported us throughout the process, especially our fellows from CETT-UB.”
CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy (Spain) won first place out of seven participating teams.
1. CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality, and Gastronomy, Spain
2. EHL, Switzerland
3. Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
Winning team: Berta Ramos Izard, Qing Shu, Pau Colomer Ayllon
Faculty Advisors: Nehru González Burgos and Helena Pérez Pérez
“This achievement motivates us to continue to grow as a future hotelier and leaders in the industry,” Pérez Pérez said. “For future participants, just keep working hard and enjoy the process.”
STR & ICHRIE Americas Student Market Study Competition (15-16 November)
“Competing in the STR & ICHRIE Student Market Study Competition was an incredible learning opportunity that gave me hands-on experience in gathering and analyzing real-world data,” said Katheryn Hansen, member of the Utah Valley University team. “Visiting Los Angeles and connecting with industry professionals was a highlight of the competition. It not only allowed me to expand my network but also gave me valuable insights into the hospitality industry that I can apply to my future career.”
Among 17 teams participating, Utah Valley University (USA) won.
1. Utah Valley University, USA
2. Virginia Tech University, USA
3. Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, Mexico
Americas Winning team: Jessica Gorman, Kiran Sumsion, Jordan Morain, Katheryn Hansen, Mattson Thompson, and Lolita Rojas
Faculty Advisors: Marc Brown and Tony Makris
“My advice to future competitors is to embrace the challenge,” Hansen said. “It is an amazing way to gain skills that will set you apart in the industry.”
STR & ICHRIE Global Student Market Study Competition (22 November)
“Visiting Los Angeles to explore the market firsthand and interviewing industry professionals was an unforgettable experience,” said Jessica Gorman, member of the Utah Valley University team. “It was amazing to see how the data we researched came to life. The competition challenged me to push my analytical skills and gain a better understanding of the hospitality industry’s trends, especially the dynamics of independent hotels.”
Utah Valley University (USA) finished first among eleven participating teams.
1. Utah Valley University, USA
2. Virginia Tech University, USA
3. Beijing Hospitality Institute, China
Global Winning team: Jessica Gorman, Kiran Sumsion, Jordan Morain, Katheryn Hansen, Mattson Thompson, and Lolita Rojas
Faculty Advisors: Marc Brown and Tony Makris
“Participating in the STR/AHLEI Market Study Competition was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive deep into real data within the hospitality industry,” said Jordan Morais, member of the Utah Valley University team. “It was an invaluable learning experience, especially being able to travel to Los Angeles, meet with professionals, and verify our findings in the field. This experience has provided me with crucial skills that I can apply directly to my career in the hospitality industry.”