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Applications are due by February 15 to attend the 10 week “Salt School” — a training and educational opportunity for those seeking to work in the hotel industry. The classes, to be held on Saturdays starting February 20, will be offered for free by David Bowd, a leading industry figure and the operator of “The Asbury” boutique hotel slated to open this Spring.

Graduates will be considered for employment at The Asbury, which began taking reservations last week for its May 26 opening.  The 110 unit hotel [rendering shown above], owned by waterfront redeveloper iStar, is at the site of the former Salvation Army building.

“Salt School is looking for outgoing and passionate individuals who want to gain important skills related to the hotel industry and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at The Asbury and have the potential to become hospitality leaders of the future,” according to a statement on the website for Bowd’s company Salt Hotels.

The 10 weekly Saturday sessions will be two and a half hours long, starting at 10 am. Students are expected to attend every class to graduate and will be tested on what they learn. The classes will be held at the Monmouth County Boys and Girls Club on Monroe Avenue in Asbury Park.

There will be 120 seats available for students, with priority given to Asbury residents. The application requires a minimum 250 word statement from applicants about why they want to attend Salt School. [Click here for more information about Salt School. Click here to apply.]

Bowd is a leader in the hotel industry, with 30 years experience. He worked his way up to the top of his field with no formal education, beginning as a bellman at age 15 at a hotel in his native England. Before recently starting his own hotel management company, Bowd worked in New York for two renowned hoteliers — Ian Schrager and Andre Balazs.

The Salt School in Asbury is his way of giving back to the industry and to help Asbury residents seeking opportunities for advancement, Bowd said.

“The hospitality industry is so unique because it doesn’t really care who you are or where you come from—you can rise to become whoever you want to be,” said Bowd. “Throughout my career, I have had incredible mentors that have helped me become who I am today, and it is my turn to give back to the industry that I love. That is what Salt School is all about—providing Asbury Park residents a chance to achieve their own personal goals.”

Along with teaching classes at the school, Bowd will draw on his industry contacts to bring in prominent speakers, as he’s been involved in some of the most high-profile hotels in the boutique hotel industry.  As managing director of The Ian Schrager Company, Bowd developed the operational structure for two new brand concepts from Ian Schrager and oversaw the sale and handover of the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York. With Andre Balazs, he served as chief operating officer for Andre Balazs Properties, where he oversaw the management of nine hotels including the Standard and the Mercer in New York, Chateau Marmont in Hollywood and the recently opened Firehouse in London. 

The following additional information about Salt School is from the Salt Hotels website:

In anticipation of the launch of The Asbury Hotel this spring, Salt School is a 10 week, 25 hour, intensive introduction to all facets of the hotel industry taking place in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Practical components are taught each week by a variety of industry friends and leading professionals in their specialty fields of hospitality management. We have gathered a group of inspiring people to come and share their experience and knowledge with our students.  Classes are designed to be informative, fun and interactive and give students a sense of real life applications in the industry.

THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES CLASSES ON:

o   The Business of Hospitality
o   The Guest Experience
o   Human Resources & Workplace Behavior
o   Revenue Management
o   Hospitality & The Law
o   Financial Principles
o   Food & Beverage
o   Technology & Social Media
o   Sales & Marketing

Upon completion of the school program students will be tested on what they have learned and celebrate at a graduation event with their families and the teachers of the classes.

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