Grounded in its commitment to providing world-class, experiential learning opportunities, Niagara University leadership recently traveled to the picturesque region of Lake Como, Italy, to visit the location of one of Niagara’s historic experiential learning locations. The visit, led by the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., NU president, served to reinforce vital academic and hospitality partnerships while supporting four exceptional Niagara students currently participating in an elite summer work abroad program.
Joining Father Maher from the College of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management (CoHST) were administrators Dr. Brandi Guerinot, acting dean of the college, and Alicia Sammarco, director of events and experiential operations. Together, they engaged with international hospitality executives and academic counterparts who help make Niagara University’s global footprint possible.
The core of Niagara University’s mission is student success, and this summer, four CoHST students are gaining incomparable, real-world international experience at some of Italy’s most prestigious properties. The participating interns are Adrienne Kendall, a tourism management major; Matteo Leo, a sport management major; Arabella Torrado, a hotel and restaurant management major; and Dianna Bourret, a hotel and restaurant management major.
This elite, 10-week work-abroad initiative is built on a rich tradition, with Niagara University sending students to this stunning Alpine region since 2004, a pipeline established under the leadership of Dean Emeritus Gary Praetzel as the founding dean of these programs. To qualify for the highly competitive program, students must demonstrate rigorous academic dedication, including a requirement to study the Italian language for at least one full year prior to departure. During their time in Italy, students gain academic internship credit along with their work experience.
As a founding member of the Hotel Schools of Distinction, Niagara University utilizes the program to provide students a global perspective on the industry, allowing them to hone superior customer service skills while fully immersing themselves in a different culture.
The delegation arrived in late May to help the students settle into their housing and kick off their summer journey. Before official duties began, Dr. Guerinot and Sammarco treated the interns to a welcome lunch, which was followed by an official welcome reception hosted by the University of Insubria. This gathering brought together the Niagara students, upcoming fall exchange scholars, and local hoteliers to celebrate the collaborative spirit of the program. Fr. Maher arrived shortly thereafter, joining the students and staff for a special dinner ahead of the interns’ first official day of work.
Niagara University’s premier internship pipeline relies on deep-rooted relationships with world-renowned Italian hoteliers. During the itinerary, university leaders spent valuable time connecting with the administrators of the iconic Villa d’Este Hotel – a legendary five-star property affectionately nicknamed “Hollywood on Lake Como” due to its historic draw of celebrity guests, artists, and musicians.
On a busy Monday of site visits, the Niagara delegation also met with Cristina Zucchi, the general manager of Lario Hotels. Zucchi is a long-standing partner of Niagara University who has overseen and mentored multiple Niagara students working across her various luxury hotel properties.
The bridge between Western New York and northern Italy is heavily supported by Niagara’s primary academic partner in the region, the University of Insubria. Father Maher and Dr. Guerinot toured the University of Insubria campus alongside Giuseppe Colangelo, director of the Department of Economics, Law, and Cultures. Colangelo oversees Insubria’s tourism management program and serves as Niagara’s main contact, seamlessly coordinating the reciprocal exchange program that brings Italian students to study abroad at Niagara every fall semester.
The university also celebrated its bond with Robert Webber, general manager of the Palace Hotel and Hotel Barchetta Excelsior. Like Zucchi, Webber has been an invaluable asset to Niagara’s experiential learning ecosystem, supervising numerous student interns at his properties over the years. A formal luncheon held during the trip brought together the minds steering this international pipeline.
The trip also highlighted the lasting impact of Niagara’s exchange programs. Throughout the week, the Niagara contingent reunited for dinners with several former University of Insubria exchange students – including Alessandro, Marianna, Elisa, Alessia, and Simone – who once called Niagara University home. The administrators also enjoyed a lunch meeting with Diego Colombo, a former Insubria exchange student to Niagara who has translated his education into a booming local career, currently serving as the director of sales and revenue for multiple hotels in Lake Como. He was joined by Chiara Roncoroni. Niagara University offers undergraduate degrees in hotel and restaurant management, sport and recreation management, and tourism and event management. In addition, an M.S. in sport management is also offered to better prepare graduates for careers in the increasingly competitive sport and recreation industry.
