Thursday night in Miami is an outing. But on Thursday night, at FIU's Biscayne Bay campus, there was a particularly popular crowd at FIU's Biscayne Bay campus, where wildly successful professor and hospitality entrepreneur David Glatman was among the most popular performers, including singer Bad Bunny, actor Jason Momoa, rapper Rick Ross, and social media. Students rush to class as media influencer Alix Earle is invited as a guest. talk. Amazingly, over 400 students have taken Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management's most popular class, HFT 4932: The David Glutman Experience. That's exactly what happened this semester.
Disbanding the class
Seconds after the professor tried to stimulate the students' spirits by forcing them to leave the three-hour class early, Bad Bunny entered the classroom incognito wearing a scarf and joined Gurtman on stage. Instead, students stood up, took photos and videos, shared the news on social media, and Mr. Grutman welcomed the entertainer, who also happens to be one of his business partners.
“You can't work on a project without feeling passionate about it and identifying with it,” Bad Bunny said of Glutman and his Groot Hospitality Group at their first restaurant, Gecko, on Brickell Avenue. He said this while explaining why he chose to partner with the company. “We feel like Miami is great for nightlife experiences, places to hang out, and fine dining,” the singer continued about the hospitality venture. The students were eager to ask questions.
Glutman (left) and our newest guest speaker, Bad Bunny
lessons learned
This is a class that no one wants to miss. Hospitality Business Entrepreneurship classes are popular because of their format. Gen Z is always on their phones and wants instant answers, so students instead receive first-hand explanations of Grutman's real-world business ventures.
In this class, Mr. Grutman uses examples from restaurant, nightclub, and hotel empires to explain concepts such as real estate purchasing and leasing, restaurant design, and intellectual property. Glutman started out in his nightlife business and established his reputation with his LIV in Fontainebleau, his Miami beach. He went on to open restaurants and hotels in Miami Beach, including the Good Time Hotel, which he owns with music producer Pharrell Williams, as a guest speaker. His restaurants, such as Komodo in Miami, now have locations in other cities such as Dallas and Las Vegas. His LIV on the West Coast opened in December at his Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
From Aquaman to environmental activist
He's saving the planet on and off screen. Jason Momoa is best known for starring in DC films such as Aquaman. But when he's not acting or producing new shows like 'On the Roam' and spending time with his family, he's building his business and brand . Although he was able to gain fame thanks to his acting, he is more interested in saving the Earth one his movie at a time. Along with his business partner Blaine Halverson, the two founded an award-winning vodka called Meili Vodka. The bottle is made from 100% recyclable glass. Halverson told his students that it took seven years to make this happen.
For Momoa, “hospitality means offering your heart.” He admits, “I'm a self-made man and had to do everything myself.”
Jason Momoa (left) and his business partner Blaine Halverson (center) join Glatman on stage.
A list class roster
This semester marks the fourth time this class has been offered at FIU. Every year, the list of celebrity guest speakers grows. Here are some of our past guests.
drake
david beckham
victoria beckham
Pharrell Williams
DJ Khaled
rick ross
Alix Earle, social media influencer
Noah Teppenberg of Tao Hospitality Group
Nerk Boys, YouTuber
Ben Gorham, Fine Perfumer
With only one class left in this five-week seminar course, what other lessons will Gurtman teach and who will open the door next? We'll have to wait and see.
Drake (right) made a surprise appearance with Glutman last year.