Practitioner Lecture on Tourism and Hospitality: Bridging Industry Insight and Classroom Learning
The English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, successfully held a Practitioner Lecture on Tourism and Hospitality on March 6, 2026, at Auditorium T2. The session featured Aries Luhur Haryono, Marketing & Communication Manager of Aston Inn Jemursari, Surabaya, who brought over 28 years of professional experience in the hospitality industry across Indonesia. This event was exclusively attended by the 2024 cohort and aimed to provide students with real-world perspectives on the dynamic and evolving hospitality sector.
During the session, the speaker emphasized that hospitality is not merely an industry but a service-oriented mindset that prioritizes guest experience, emotional connection, and service excellence. Drawing from his extensive career journey—from restaurant management to leading marketing and communications in major hotel chains—he highlighted how creating memorable “extra-mile” services is essential in building customer loyalty. The lecture also explored the wide scope of the hospitality industry, including hotels, resorts, cruise services, event organizing, cafés, restaurants, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), alongside the importance of interdepartmental coordination within hotel operations.
Furthermore, students were introduced to current trends shaping the industry, such as smart hotel technologies (mobile check-in, digital keys, AI chatbots) and sustainability practices (eco-friendly campaigns and energy-saving systems). Practical knowledge was also shared through common hospitality terminology, real-life service scenarios, and effective complaint-handling strategies using the L.A.S.F method (Listen, Apologize, Solve, Follow-up). In addition, the speaker underlined essential skills required for future professionals, including communication skills, emotional intelligence, adaptability, teamwork, and strong product knowledge.
The session was highly interactive, with many students actively participating by asking and answering questions throughout the lecture. As a form of appreciation, several of these engaged students were invited by the speaker to attend a special iftar (breaking fast) gathering at Aston Inn Jemursari. This gesture not only strengthened the connection between academia and industry but also provided students with an opportunity to experience hospitality networking firsthand.
Overall, the practitioner lecture served as a valuable platform for students to gain deeper insights into the hospitality industry, inspiring them to prepare themselves both professionally and personally for future careers in this competitive and service-driven field.
