Northwest Indiana Business Magazine

Northwest Indiana’s Leading Regional Business Magazine Since 1991

  • Home
  • Industries
    • Banking
    • Education
    • Health & Wellness
    • Manufacturing & Technology
    • Professional Services
    • Real Estate & Building
    • Small Business & Entrepreneurship
    • Tourism & Recreation
    • Transportation & Logistics
  • Community
    • Around the Region
    • Business News Bits
    • Economic Development
    • Events
    • Leadership
    • Making a Difference
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Viewpoint
    • Publisher’s Note
  • Jobs
  • Webinars
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues Archive
    • Advertise With Us
    • Business News eNewsletter
    • Subscriptions and Renewals
    • Contributing Writers
    • Editorial and Business Advisory Board
    • Magazine Team
  • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise With Us
    • Subscriptions and Renewals
    • Our History
    • Privacy
    • Terms
  • Log In
You are here: Home / Community / Business News Bits / Purdue University renames hospitality school after White Lodging founder and Marriott International chairman

Purdue University renames hospitality school after White Lodging founder and Marriott International chairman

October 11, 2021 – By Larry Avila

White Lodging
From the left, Purdue President Mitch Daniels; Liam Brown, group president, U.S. and Canada of Marriott International; Bruce White, founder and CEO of White Lodging; and Michael Berghoff, chair of the Purdue Board of Trustees, were on hand for the renaming of the university’s hospitality and tourism management school to The White Lodging – J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University. (Photo provide by White Lodging)

The Purdue University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management now is known as the White Lodging – J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The college’s board of trustees approved the name change Oct. 1. Bruce White, founder of Merrillville-based White Lodging, is a long-time supporter of Purdue requested the hospitality and tourism management school also honor the career and contributions of J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board of Marriott International.

Bruce and Beth White’s and the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation’s $5 million pledge provides the foundation for an honors program in hospitality, an endowed scholarship for top hospitality students and a named headship in the school. This follows Bruce and Beth White’s and the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation’s pledge of $30 million in 2018 to Purdue for the transformation of the historic Union Club Hotel.

“Our goal is to create an environment that allows associates to be their best selves and grow through training, development and mentorship,” Bruce White said. “This goal stands as a foundation that Bill and the Marriott team built for the hospitality industry and continue to support at all levels.”

Marriott said he was humbled by the recognition.

“We have had a wonderful relationship with White Lodging and Bruce and Beth White for decades,” he said. “The relationship with Purdue is also a longstanding one, and I am grateful to be part of this initiative preparing future hospitality leaders.”

The Marriott family has a longstanding relationship with Purdue, including The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation providing the lead donation of $5 million in 2012 to create Marriott Hall on Purdue’s campus. The Marriott family also supports the annual Marriott Executive in the Classroom series, which brings hospitality industry leaders to West Lafayette to engage with students about the industry’s career pathways and visit with faculty to provide business insights to advance the students’ learning experience.

In 2020, the nearly 92-year-old, 182-room Union Club Hotel reopened on campus after a comprehensive $35 million, yearlong transformation. The project involved a complete overhaul of all guest rooms and public spaces, as well as the creation of three dining concepts honoring Purdue’s legacy.

Original Purdue architecture and academic-inspired design are preserved in carpet patterns, upholstery, room fixtures and countless other elements in the hotel.

The hotel is also used as a hands-on learning laboratory for Purdue hospitality students where they spend time working and learning about hotel and restaurant operations while earning college credits. Additionally, the Union Club Hotel is host to the White Lodging LAUNCH Hospitality Immersion Program designed to propel high-caliber university students into the industry by providing paid, hands-on experience.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Larry Avila
Follow me
Larry Avila
Larry is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of experience working with daily newspapers and business-to-business publications around the Midwest. Avila is a Michigan native and a graduate of Central Michigan University.
Larry Avila
Follow me
Latest posts by Larry Avila (see all)
  • Valparaiso University names new director of athletics - May 23, 2022
  • ALDI set to reopen renovated Gary store May 26 - May 23, 2022
  • Construction firms honored for safety, project quality - May 20, 2022

Filed Under: Business News Bits, Education, Hospitality Tagged With: Around the Region, Bruce White, J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University, Marriott International, Purdue University, The White Lodging – J.W. Marriott, White Lodging

Print Issue

April-May 2022

April-May 2022 issue

Magazine Articles

In this issue

Around the Region

2022 Best of Business

For the good of everyone

New venues take spotlight

LEED-ing the way to future

Green new future

Record-breaking housing boom

Catalyst for tasty change

Forging path into Indiana

True to its active mission

Viewpoint: Indiana’s future a sure bet

Categories

Archives

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Business News Bits
  • Archive
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscriptions and Renewals
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Contact

© Copyright 1991-2022 Linker Media Group, Inc · All Rights Reserved

Posting....