Hotel Ezra Cornell

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Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC) is a yearly, weekend-long education conference run entirely by students from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration for leaders in the hospitality industry. It includes seminars, social activities, and food and beverage events. Now in its 100th year, HEC is one of Cornell’s oldest traditions and actually began before the School of Hotel Administration. About 300 students help plan and run the weekend, with faculty members acting as advisers.

HEC started in 1925 when Professor Howard Meek and his students spent a day managing the Hotel Astor in New York. Back in Ithaca, they opened “The Only Hotel for a Day” and organized a grand dinner to show that hospitality could be taught in a classroom. The first HEC took place on May 7, 1926 in Risley Hall because there wasn’t a dedicated event space yet.

In its second year, Ellsworth Milton Statler attended as guest of honor to evaluate the program, and his praise helped launch the School of Hotel Administration. Over the years HEC grew with unique themes, such as HEC 60’s “Diamond Robbery” mystery. By HEC 77, the weekend shifted toward learning and guest speakers, more like an industry conference, while still aiming to top previous years with the tagline “The Best Ever.”