David Randel ’77 personifies the very essence of hospitality – a commitment to ensuring others feel valued, comforted, and supported. Now, after a stellar 40-year career, he’s poised to extend this commitment to the current generation of hospitality Rebels.

By Caitlyn Lopez

Alumnus David Randel’s journey is a compelling narrative of dedication and an enduring love for the world of hospitality. After leaving his quaint hometown in Ohio in 1974, he moved to Las Vegas to pursue his bachelor’s degree at the UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality. 

“I remember interning in the showroom at the Sahara,” he says. “I got to work and meet iconic performers, like the Rat Pack. It was very exciting for a young kid from Sandusky, Ohio.”

His time at the college proved to be transformative, setting him on a trajectory that eventually led him to becoming a marketing and sales executive for Marriott International. 

Throughout his career, he had the privilege of imparting crucial skills to hundreds of employees; today, he's eager to pass on his wealth of industry knowledge to current Rebels through mentorship and teaching. 

As a proud participant in the college's mentor program, Randel is wholeheartedly invested in offering guidance, wisdom, and insights to hospitality students. He emphasizes that mentorship is a reciprocal experience — a "two-way street."

"I'm not too proud to admit that I still learn from the younger generations," Randel says. "It's exciting to be out there with them, exchanging ideas and perspectives."

For Randel, mentorship can take many forms. When he discovered that three UNLV hospitality students were interning at his current workplace – The Ironhorse Country Club in Whitefish, Montana – he immediately embraced them as fellow Rebels.

“Internships are important because it allows the students to practice what they learn in the classroom in a real-world environment,” he says. “It’s adding a kind of ‘street smart’ to their ‘book smart.’” 

In the future, Randel hopes to partner with hospitality students on a classroom project that emphasizes marketing and sales – the skills upon which he built his career. 

“I want to share a lot of what I’ve learned with students because they are the future of the industry,” he says. “Working with them is a thrill.”