The director of academic affairs at The International School of Hospitality (TISOH) is among the top 25 young special events professionals to watch in 2014, according to Special Events magazine.
The magazine recognizes Donnell Bayot, 33, for his work on “bringing a left-brain discipline to the right-brain creativity of events.” Bayot tops the list among young professionals from major markets such as New York, Chicago and Houston as well as British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
“Donnell is all about innovation,” said Tim Lam, director, TISOH. “His creativity, coupled with academic rigor, equips our students to forge successful careers.”
Bayot is a founding member of TISOH. Along with several university professors and hospitality industry experts from the Las Vegas Strip, he saw the need for practical, short-term training programs to help hospitality workers advance in their careers and to help people aspiring to enter the field. Diploma graduates of the school enjoy a 90 percent job placement rate.
“It’s a thrill to be on the list simply for working in the dream job that lets me merge practicality with rigorous research,” Bayot said.
Bayot, who earlier this year won the Convention Industry Council’s Pacesetter Award, also is leading the charge to develop a competency model for catering and event professionals. He serves as second vice president of the National Association of Catering and Events and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Special Events magazine, founded in 1982, is the oldest trade publication for special events professionals and has been a partner of the International Special Events Society since 1985.
