Oklahoma State University’s College of Human Sciences’ annual Dean Lela O’Toole International Speaker Series will feature Marcus Hotels and Resorts’ president and chief operating officer, Joseph Khairallah, on March 27 in Jorns Hall at 2:30.

Khairallah’s presentation, “The Human Element in Global Hospitality”, will emphasize the many human elements of global hospitality, including nutrition, human resources, guest services, business development, facilities design, sustainability and other international hospitality issues.

Khairallah grew up in Lebanon and earned a degree in hotel management from Institut Haulot in Brussels, Belgium. Prior to his current position

with Marcus Hotels and Resorts, Khairallah served as Vice President of Rooms, Spa and Security for the Hyatt Americas Group where he supported 383 hotels as well as overseeing 155 properties and 30 spas. He has extensive experience managing business operations across six continents and 44 countries.

Khairallah’s approach to hospitality operations focuses on engaging employees, improving profitability and providing exceptional customer experiences. He speaks six languages and believes language can be instrumental in bridging cultural barriers in the workplace and society as a whole. He is passionate about education and frequently takes time to share his industry knowledge and experience with students across several universities that specialize in hospitality studies.

Established in 1995, The Dean Lela O’Toole International Speaker Series in the College of Human Sciences focuses on timely and relevant topics related to public policy, ethics, and international issues in the scholastic areas of the College of Human Sciences.