A team of students from Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Wasatch Resort Management (WARM) program has won first place in both the 2024 STR & ICHRIE Global and Americas Student Market Study Competitions! Held almost back-to-back, students first competed on November 15–16 in the national competition, and then again took home the first place title at the global competition on November 22, 2025. This prestigious event challenged students to analyze hotel market trends and present their findings to industry experts.

The UVU team—Katheryn Hansen, Kiran Sumsion, Jordan Morais, Lolita Rojas, Mattson Thompson, and Jessica Gorman—spent months studying the Los Angeles hotel market. Their hard work paid off as they faced off against some of the world's top hospitality schools, with the judges even calling the UVU team's presentation “flawless.” 

As part of their research, the students visited Los Angeles, met with hospitality professionals, and presented their work at the J.W. Marriott in Downtown LA. They also explored potential development sites for a class project in Hospitality Finance.

"Visiting Los Angeles, exploring the market firsthand, and interviewing industry professionals was an unforgettable experience. After conducting extensive research, seeing the data come to life in person was truly remarkable," said Jessica Gorman. "This project takes blood, sweat, and tears."

UVU’s WARM program prepares students for careers in hospitality, luxury events, and resort management. With a mix of hands-on experience and real-world opportunities like this competition, the program helps students stand out in the fast-growing hospitality industry.

Learn more about the WARM program and how it’s shaping future leaders in hospitality here.