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Associate Board of Director: Edward Cardenas

Edward Cardenas

Area Sales Manager, Marriott International

Please describe your experience as a volunteer within or outside the travel community.

I have been very active with the Queens Economic Development for Long Island City, NY. As a leader in the hospitality I find it to be very important that we engage with the local community.

Please describe your professional experience in the student travel industry.

I have been in the leadership role for the hospitality industry for the last ten year and I have had the great opportunity of working with the student travel industry and I must say it has been a very rewarding experience.

Please describe other professional or personal experience that would benefit you as a Board member.

I feel that it does not matter how long one has been in a leadership role, we are students first in our craft. I feel the benefit of being a board member will elevate my knowledge and experience of the student industry and will allow me to look at opportunities from both sides of the table.

Please describe why you would like to serve as a Board of Director (Associate).

To allow me the opportunity to give back to this great industry.

What do you see as the challenges facing the student travel industry?  What can SYTA do to meet those challenges?

Coming from a metropolis city I feel one of the challenges the student industry faces will be trying to meet their budget needs. With all of the hotels going after high ADR I feel if we can educated the travel and pattern needs to everyone it can be a win/win situation.