Groundbreaking to be held Sept. 19 for on-campus hotel at Montana State

BOZEMAN - A groundbreaking will be held Sept. 19 for the VIM, a privately owned and operated hotel to be located on the campus of Montana State University that will provide real-world experience to prepare Montana's next generation of leaders in the fast-growing hospitality and culinary fields.

The groundbreaking will be held at 11 a.m. at the future site of the hotel along South Seventh Avenue, just south of Norm Asbjornson Hall and Gianforte Hall in MSU's South Campus District. The public is welcome to attend.

Following a competitive proposal process, Lone Mountain Land Co., a subsidiary of CrossHarbor Capital Partners, was identified to develop the five-story hotel project to be operated as a Marriott Hotels franchise location. It is being built on land that MSU has leased to the developers.

Named after lyrics from MSU's fight song, the VIM will not only provide accommodations for visitors to campus and the community but also offer hands-on training and internship opportunities for MSU students.

"CrossHarbor Capital Partners and Lone Mountain Land Co. have been committed to becoming long-term academic collaborators with MSU," said Alison Harmon, the university's vice president for research and economic development. "Having this full-service facility on campus will create new opportunities for MSU students and help grow enrollment in high-demand areas, which will benefit our state's hospitality industry."

"Working with Montana State University is truly meaningful to us," said Sam Byrne, co-founder and managing partner of CrossHarbor. "Building a campus hotel is about investing in our community's future. By supporting students' education and creating local jobs, we're helping talented students stay and build a better future here in Montana."

The VIM will have food and beverage outlets inside, including a restaurant. There will also be conference and meeting space that will serve as educational spaces for MSU hospitality management students.

"Lone Mountain Land Company's generosity in supporting the growth and success of MSU's Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Program throughout the project, as well as a recent $1 million donation, demonstrates their outstanding commitment to education and deep investment in the future of our students," said MSU Alumni Foundation President and CEO Fran Albrecht. "We are incredibly grateful for their partnership, which will create transformative opportunities for learning, innovation and career development in this vital industry."

"This hotel will give Gallatin College students in the culinary arts program daily opportunities to apply their skills in a professional setting just steps from the rest of campus, preparing them to step directly into Montana's growing hospitality industry," said Stephanie Gray, dean of Gallatin College MSU. MSU has multiple avenues for students seeking careers in hospitality fields.

The university offers four-year hospitality management programs in the College of Education, Health and Human Development and the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship. The former offers an option in sustainable hospitality, and the latter offers a hospitality business option. The programs prepare students to become skilled professionals within the expanding local, regional, national and global hospitality industries through courses in subjects including food and nutrition, culinary arts, business, and agriculture, as well as hospitality-specific course work emphasizing sustainability and quality customer service. Internships along the way ensure students have practical experience that makes them competitive candidates for jobs after graduation.

Gallatin College MSU also offers an associate of applied science degree in culinary arts, which opens the door to jobs in the local food services industry. Students may also opt for an entrepreneurial path toward owning a restaurant, bakery, food truck or catering business. The program also prepares students to transfer into the hospitality management bachelor's program, if they wish.

Strong career prospects are available to graduates of MSU's hospitality programs. Students can expect to find job opportunities with an average starting salary of $57,000, Harmon said. She added that many hospitality graduates stay in Montana or the region.

The VIM's internships will provide a convenient work experience close to students' other classes on campus, which can help fit valuable, practical experiences into their busy schedules, Harmon noted.