UNE and Atlantic Hospitality partnership bridges academic learning with real-world experience

Courtesy| University of New England From left, on the roof of the Lincoln Hotel in Biddeford, are Norm O’Reilly, dean of the College of Business at UNE; business student Lily Hagen; Aimee Vlachos, business professor; and Justin Grimes, managing partner of Atlantic Hospitality.

Write a Comment

By Sloane M. Perron

The University of New England’s College of Business announced a strategic partnership with Atlantic Hospitality, a Kennebunk-based hospitality management company, to advance experiential learning and provide students with direct operations and marketing knowledge.

The collaboration will create internship placements, applied classroom projects, and industry-informed learning experiences for students of all majors interested in learning more about the hospitality sector and gaining work experience.

Placements are still being finalized, with internships being made available for the upcoming fall semester. Some future opportunities include students from UNE’s new supply chain management major learning about scale production for a beer and spirits brand or those studying outdoor business and innovation analyzing the relationship between sustainability and profitability at an area outdoor hospitality business, according to the joint press release.

“We envision a model where academia and industry collaborate seamlessly, offering leadership development, entrepreneurial opportunities, and co-created curricula,” said UNE’s director of outdoor business and innovation, Aimee T. Vlachos.

The intersection of academia and industry is demonstrated by an upcoming course, Sustainability and Eco-Recreation Planning, created through the partnership, which will be rolled out in August.

Real-world experience

Lily Hagen, a third-year student from Wakefield, Mass., is also working at Atlantic Hospitality's Batson River Brewing & Distilling. She hopes to earn a position in marketing or sales at a brewing company after graduation.

“I work in the brewing industry as a bartender and am looking to gain some behind-the-scenes knowledge,” Hagen said. “My business classes have given me the theoretical framework in marketing, finance, management, and other areas. This internship would allow me to use the skills I have learned firsthand in a real-world business.”

The hospitality company’s portfolio includes the Claremont Hotel, Salt Cottages, and the Asticou Hotel on Mount Desert Island; urban destinations like the Lincoln Hotel in Biddeford; and recreational spaces, including Bounce Pickle & Play. The company also operates destination resorts, the Wanderer in Kennebunk and the Dunes on the Waterfront in Ogunquit.

“Maine’s hospitality industry is full of opportunity, but talent development is the key to sustainable growth,” said Justin Grimes, managing partner of Atlantic Hospitality. “This partnership with UNE is about creating real-world access for students to learn, contribute and ultimately stay and thrive here in Maine.”