Rate My Professor Alanna Olah

Alanna Olah serves as Chair and Clinical Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management within the Doermer School of Business at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. She holds a Master of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Central Florida. Bringing over 25 years of extensive professional experience in hotels and restaurants to her academic position, Olah has occupied diverse roles such as host, waitstaff, kitchen manager, front-of-house manager, and regional beverage director for a chain of full-service restaurants. Her industry career featured significant work with Marriott Hotels and Resorts, as well as participation in opening the first Seasons 52 restaurant in Orlando, Florida, under Darden Restaurants.

Olah discovered her passion for teaching in 2011 and transitioned to full-time college instruction, where she now shares her practical insights with students. Her key academic interests and teaching passions include risk management, food and beverage operations, and food safety and sanitation. In her leadership role as department chair, she has advanced departmental initiatives, including articulation agreements with Ivy Tech Community College to ease credit transfers for hospitality students and the introduction of sports management majors for the fall 2026 semester. Additionally, Olah has contributed to scholarly discourse as a co-author on publications such as "Global expansion for private clubs – a strategic management audit of Soho House," published in the Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism in 2025, and a comprehensive review of the North American hotel industry in Tourism Analysis. Previously, she served as a Hospitality Management Teaching Associate in the University of Florida's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Through her blend of industry expertise and academic leadership, Olah significantly influences hospitality education and prepares students for successful careers in the field.