Each semester HAESF organizes a business or entrepreneurial themed domestic field for participants of the Professional Internship Program. The goal of the business field trips is to add to the Fellow's professional development by learning about a topic through meetings with influential businesses, organizations and business leaders, as well as, provide a networking opportunity. Participants also have the opportunity to learn about the region and culture to be visited. Past field trips have included Strategic Marketing (Las Vegas, NV), Financial Markets and Securities (New York, NY), Venture Capital (San Francisco, CA), etc.

When do field trips occur?

Fields trips are arranged every semester (fall/spring) for each group of arriving participants. In general, for participants arriving in the spring, the field trip will take place in September or October. For participants arriving in the fall, the field trip will take place in March or April.

While every effort is made to make the theme, travel dates and itinerary available at the earliest date possible, participants should recognize that due to a business' availability and planning logistics the actual field trip dates may not be finalized until approx. one month prior to the event. Participants are encouraged to keep this mind when making travel plans.

Who can participate?

Participation is open only to participants of the Professional Internship Program.

Past Field Trips

Fall 2007, Strategic Marketing
Location: Las Vegas, NV

For participants of fall 2007 semester, the field trip took place in Las Vegas, NV with a theme on strategic marketing. We explored the dynamic reasons why Las Vegas, second only to Google in brand recognition, has been so successful in attracting over 38.9 million business and leisure travelers a year. This was accomplished through meetings with the following influential businesses and business leaders.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is the official destination marketing organization of Las Vegas, responsible for marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide. The LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area by promoting tourism, conventions, meetings and special events.

We met with the Vice President of Convention Sales to discuss the LVCVA unique mandate and business model as a quasigovernmental organization. This was a dynamic hour long interactive discussion on the history, “heads in beds” business model and marketing strategy and initiatives of the LVCVA. This was followed of a tour of the facility and further explanation of its convention sales model.

Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club
Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club is the only AAA five diamond/Mobil four-star and Mobil five-star casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip. We met with the Human Resource Director and Hotel Manager and discussed overall business strategy and marketing for the Wynn properties. This was a lively discussion on the inner workings of a premier property covering among some of the topics: overhead costs, revenue sources, marketing strategies, future development, company culture and more. We also had the opportunity to tour the property with the Hotel Manager who provided additional insight on the different aspects of hotel management, revenue sources, typical hotel management issues and the three different clientele types.

Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce is recognized as the pre-eminent partner and advocate for business in Nevada and is the largest business organization in the state. Since 1911, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has been influencing public policy on behalf of the business community, helping Southern Nevada become a thriving and dynamic marketplace of opportunities.

We met with the Director of Public Relations and talked about the Chamber of Commerce, what they do and try to accomplish through their various programs and departments. This discussion included local, state and federal lobbying efforts on behalf of businesses and a myriad of other topics or questions asked by program participants.

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