FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Jimmy Taylor, the executive in residence for the human nutrition and hospitality innovation program, recently met with students from the School of Human Environmental Sciences in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas to discuss what the hospitality industry is looking for in future graduates.

“You have to start with a certain amount of hospitality heart,” Taylor said. “If you don't care about people, taking care of people, waiting on people or wanting to be around people, then you're in the wrong industry.”

He also reminded the students that while social media is huge now, it was nothing 10 years ago and students still have to be able to communicate on a more personal level.

“When I think about how you separate yourself, one of the things has to be that you understand social media and you understand technology,” he said. “Social media is something that will get you in the door, but it is still a people game.”

Taylor also discussed the value of higher education and its importance to being an entrepreneur.

“If you are going to run your own business, it would be really smart for you to have an all-encompassing education,” Taylor said. 

Taylor has 25 years of experience in the hotel industry. He served as the vice president of U.S. sales for the Intercontinental Hotel Group for eight years and as vice president of Extended Stay operations and sales since July.