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HPU College of Business students gather with Managing Director Joey Woofter, center, and Professor Michelle Alarcon, far right, during their student tour hosted at The Laylow, Autograph Collection.
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Managing Director Joey Woofter guides students through a guest room, explaining the hotel's midcentury modern design, accommodations, and guest experience strategy.
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Joey Woofter hosts a private management talk in the conference room, sharing valuable leadership lessons, business strategies, and his career background with HPU students.
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Students explore the outdoor deck and public lounge areas while discussing property operations and customer engagement.
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Joey Woofter highlights unique property features, retail spaces, and merchandising concepts during the guided tour.
On Oct. 16, 2026, HPU College of Business students in Professor Michelle Alarcon's Human Resource Management (MGMT 3400) class went on a field trip to The Laylow Waikiki, Marriott’s Honolulu boutique hotel, hosted by Joey Woofter, an HPU alumnus who was recently appointed as the hotel's managing director.
Woofter welcomed the group and provided a comprehensive introduction to the property, detailing the hotel’s unique concept, vibrant design, distinct personality, and guest experience strategy. Throughout the afternoon, Woofter led the students on a guided property tour across key sections of the hotel. Students explored the resort's distinct accommodations, boutique retail areas, outdoor deck spaces, and public lounges, gaining practical insights into asset management, pricing, customer segmentation, and value creation in a high-end urban resort setting.
Following the property tour, Woofter hosted an interactive session in the conference room. Drawing on his extensive hospitality career including his past role as manager for Turtle Bay Resort, Woofter spoke about the transition to his new role as the managing director for The Laylow Waikiki. Woofter shared valuable, practical management lessons. He discussed his background as a manager, core business strategies, team building, trust, and how a strong leader empowers employees to ensure smooth daily operations.
Students and Professor Alarcon expressed their gratitude for the warm hospitality and the exceptional learning experience provided, highlighting how the field trip successfully bridged classroom theory with real-world hospitality management.
To learn more about the HPU College of Business, go to www.hpu.edu/cob.
