A little bit of personal history from an article originally published in Lodging Magazine in May of 2001…
Hospitality veteran Howard Feiertag has led an intriguing life. A faculty member in the department of hospitality and tourism management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Feiertag was honored in April at the AH&LA Spring Conference with the Educational Institute’s prestigious Arthur Landstreet Award, which is presented to an individual who has made a lasting impact on the quality of education and training in the hospitality industry.
Feiertag says he’s honored that he was chosen, particularly since educating others has become his passion. Twelve years ago, Feiertag, 72, left a healthy income at Servico, where he was senior vice president of marketing, to accept a $20,000-a-year part-time teaching position at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He did it because he wanted the opportunity to teach young people and also to explore other options. It afforded him the chance to develop a series of hospitality workshops. He now conducts seminars for hotel industry professionals, management companies, and meeting planners. He also frequently speaks at conventions. “I log 100,000 miles a year with the airlines,” he says.
Before working for Servico, Feiertag spent 16 years with American Motor Inns, where he ended up senior vice president of operations. Prior to that, he served as a director of sales for two hotels in Charlotte, North Carolina.
But Feiertag got his start in the hospitality business in the early 1960’s, when he was hired as the first manager of the Charlotte Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. Two years later, he went to Orlando to launch the region’s CVB.
“It was a beautiful little city,” he says. “Somebody started buying up all the land. Everyone thought it was the government, but it was Disney.”
Feiertag sort of fell into the hotel business when he was hired to run the Charlotte CVB. “I thought I’d end up working in police administration.”
Right out of high school, Feiertag was enlisted in the military and served three years in military intelligence. He investigated people who were supposed to have security clearance with the U.S. government. Because he held this position, he was called to testify during the McCarthy Hearings. “They wanted me to testify, but I refused,” he says.
Feiertag remained in the military reserves while he attended college. When he graduated, he received his military commission and got a job in a state prison in southern Michigan.
In 1953, during the Korean War, Feiertag was called back into the service. He was stationed in New Jersey and served as a commander of the military police. He was charged with setting up a prisoner of war unit and hired interpreters, photographers, and linguists. “By the time we got it all organized and filled all the vacancies, the war was over.”
When recalling his life experiences – which until recently included running sheep and cattle farms – Feiertag considers himself fortunate. “I never had a job I didn’t like.”
Written by Robyn Taylor Parets, originally published in Lodging Magazine, May 2001.
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