THP 30: Dag Alemayehu

Program: Hospitality Management
Current Position: Business Development Manager, Hospitality & Tourism, goDCdo
Hometown: Accokeek, MD
LinkedIn: Dag Alemayehu

Describe an interesting trend you see emerging in your profession and how you think it will affect the field.

The sharing economy is thriving in the travel industry today, with apartment dwellers and homeowners using a variety of distribution channels to rent out their unused units or spare bedrooms to travelers seeking alternatives to traditional hotel stays. I believe this will make a tremendous impact on the hotel industry and will change the way hospitality programs are taught. A hotel's organizational chart will be completely reconfigured, and the focus will no longer be on "service" but revenue management.

Who (or what) has inspired you and how has your life changed as a result?

Having two immigrant parents who emigrated from Ethiopia in the late 60s and early 70s in hopes of one day achieving the American Dream has inspired me. With little capital and both working up to two jobs at times, they were able to put themselves through college and went on to earn graduate degrees. Seeing what they accomplished and the obstacles they overcame has motivated me to capitalize on the opportunities I have and pursue my entrepreneurial endeavors.