Justin Taillon knows a thing or two about hospitality. The 43-year-old Auburn resident is not only the professor and department head of Highline’s School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (HOST), he’s also the global president of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), an association that empowers hospitality professionals.
He says that with the hospitality and tourism industry being the world’s largest business, he gets a seat at the table with some of the most influential people shaping the industry, through his role with HFTP. Furthermore, this involvement directly influences what he teaches.
“What’s most rewarding is being able to bring these real-world insights, experiences, and connections straight back to our students at Highline College,” Taillon said. “And I’m not alone—my colleagues in HOST Management are out in the world too, actively shaping the future of the industry and sharing that knowledge in the classroom.”
Taillon says he believes this is why Highline’s HOST program is ranked among the very best in the nation. It sits at No. 2 at the college level and No. 36 overall out of 674 programs in the United States according to Hospitality Colleges, which ranks higher education institutions based on USA Department of Education data.
“It’s not just what we teach. It’s who and what we bring into the classroom with us because of these experiences,” Taillon said.
He describes HFTP as the voice for all IT and accounting professionals within the hospitality industry, globally. With more than 10% of the world’s GDP existing in hospitality and tourism, IT and accounting are important positions in the global workforce.
“When someone needs soft skills, public speaking skills, credentials, resume assistance, etc., basically anything that an accountant or technology professional needs, we are there for them. We guide them, educate them, and support them,” he said.
The organization holds conferences and meetings in Australia, Barcelona, Canada, Dubai, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, The Caribbean, USA, and many other countries. On top of that, chapter events take place in various locations, with Taillon attending events in Canada, Chicago, Dubai, Indianapolis, and South Korea within the coming months alone.
Taillon’s journey into hospitality began in high school when his guidance counselor called him a “Hospitality Personality.” His first job was as a housekeeper at a Marriott property.
“Today, I am so proud of having been a housekeeper. It catapulted me into the stratosphere of hotel management. More than 50% of hotel professionals work in housekeeping. How can you manage a hotel’s operations if you don’t understand the position of more than 50% of your workforce?,” he said.
In those early years, Taillon almost got into the music industry but was talked out of it because there’s too much luck involved. Whereas, he was told that with hospitality if you work harder and smarter than other people, you will end up at the top. And that’s exactly what happened.
“I was a 25-year-old Assistant General Manager with Hilton. I had my own all-suite hotel to manage in the prestigious Galleria area of Houston. It wasn’t easy. I missed seven straight Chrismasses, seven straight New Year’s, and took basically no vacation, but I was able to say I had my own hotel to manage at age 25. I am glad I took this path,” Taillon said.
“If you are willing to work harder than other people then few industries will move you faster to the top than hotels,” Taillon affirmed.
Taillon, who has built the Hospitality & Tourism Management department at Highline over the past ten years, says the HOST 100 program means a lot to him.
“It is the course that changes many lives, as students have their eyes opened to what the world’s largest business entails,” he said.
As someone who is so well traveled, Taillon’s “favorite place on earth” is Jeju Island in South Korea. His second favorite place is Rovinj, Croatia. In fact, Taillon’s advice is to not miss out on traveling.
“If you don’t know how to make travel affordable, enroll in my coursework. I can walk you through tricks that can change your life!” he said.