Coming from Yangon, Myanmar, Ei Thandar Lwin, STH ’22, aspired to someday work in the hotel industry, and she came to Temple because of the reputation of the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STH). With financial assistance from a Global Merit Scholarship and the Conwell International Award, she arrived in Philadelphia in fall 2018. The experience, she says, was life-changing and “priceless.”
Photo by Joseph V. Labolito
Temple helped me step out of my comfort zone, and it allowed me to grow. Being here is very different from home. So, these four years have been quite a journey.”
While maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average and making the Dean’s List every year, Lwin took advantage of every opportunity Temple presented. She served as a student ambassador for STH, advising students on the curriculum and helping them pursue internships. She became a student representative for the Strategic Planning Task Force and for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As well, she joined the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and Destinations International and served in a number of leadership roles for her local chapter of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality.
All of these endeavors, in addition to access to the school’s network within the local hospitality industry, gave her the foundation for launching her career in earnest. When international luxury hotel and resort company Four Seasons was looking for volunteers to help with the grand opening of their new hotel at the Comcast Center in Philadelphia, Lwin jumped at the chance. It was the “in” she needed and she was later accepted for an internship at the hotel her senior year.
“That allowed me to get a head start on my career before graduation,” she said. “It was a great opportunity to test the waters.”
Lwin graduated in May 2022 and was hired full time at the Four Seasons. In her current role, she oversees multiple departments, including the front desk, concierge services and guest relations, which means making sure everything goes smoothly behind the scenes.
“I mainly focus on operations and guest experiences as well as managing the teams when their respective department heads leave for the day and become the point of contact for any emergency situations or any decision-making processes,” she explained.
College: School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management
Degree: BS, Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2022
Industry: Hospitality
Hometown: Yangon, Myanmar
Sometimes that involves the unexpected, like assisting a guest whose luggage has gone missing, or whose anniversary plans have gone awry. Lwin relishes her ability to think quickly and problem solve under pressure. In the future, she would like to rise through the ranks within the Four Seasons and work in different countries around the world, before eventually running her own hotel.
“I’ve always wanted to help others. Going above and beyond to make their experience memorable is very rewarding,” she said. “The smiles I see on guests’ faces are what motivates me to do what I do.”
