Edutours
Edutour at Tulane University
More Than a Meal: How Tulane Hospitality Brings New Orleans Culture, Purpose, and Innovation to Life
Join Tulane Hospitality for an immersive campus Edutour that explores how a university dining program can do more than feed students, it can educate, connect, and reflect the culture of its city. Set in the heart of New Orleans, this experience will showcase how Tulane Hospitality intentionally weaves culinary storytelling, local partnerships, innovation, and sustainability into the student dining experience.
Guests will begin at The Commons, where they will be welcomed and introduced to the program’s philosophy: building a dining program with greater purpose, one that honors place, exposes students to meaningful food traditions, and creates genuine connection through hospitality.
Along the way, attendees will sample and hear the stories behind several featured concepts and dishes, including the beignet chicken sandwich that gained national attention in Tulane’s concessions program, classic New Orleans dishes that speak to local tradition, and menu items that reflect the many cultural influences that helped shape the city’s foodways. At the Maestro station, guests will experience a signature gumbo presentation and hear how recipe development, regional identity, and sourcing from nearby farms, shrimpers, and fishermen come together in a program rooted in authenticity and partnership.
The tour will also highlight how Tulane connects culinary vision with operational innovation. Attendees will learn about sustainability efforts including expanded local procurement, composting partnerships, food-waste reduction strategies, sustainable packaging initiatives, and the use of AI and technology to support smarter dining operations. The experience will conclude with visits that showcase both chef partnerships and autonomous retail technology, offering a close-up look at how Tulane blends tradition and innovation across the dining program.
This Edutour offers a compelling look at how Tulane is working to build a dining program that is distinctly New Orleans, deeply mission-driven, and intentionally designed to educate, honor, and inspire.
Learning Focus / Key Themes
Culinary storytelling rooted in New Orleans culture
Local sourcing and community partnerships
Mission-driven dining that educates as well as nourishes
Sustainability and food-waste reduction initiatives
Innovation through technology and autonomous retail
Tour Format
Walking tour with food samples at multiple stops
Participant Notes
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the summer heat and humidity.
Edutour at Loyola University
Behind the Scenes of a Reimagined Dining Program
Step inside a reimagined campus dining ecosystem and experience the journey from mobile order to meal service. This guided walking tour begins with quick behind-the-scenes visits to on-campus retail partners, where participants will explore front- and back-of-house operations at Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Jimmy John’s, and Smoothie King to see how national brands integrate into the campus environment.
At the campus market, guests will participate in an interactive Q&A on frictionless retail and mobile ordering, featuring Sodexo Digital Solutions and Grubhub. The tour then moves into the dining hall, where lunch will be available while attendees meet the culinary team at each station to discuss menu development, emerging trends, and the creativity behind station concepts. A regional nutritionist will share insights into Simple Serve and the role of inclusive nutrition in today’s dining programs.
Participants will also explore the kitchen to learn about layout, equipment, and operational design before concluding in the St. Charles Room for a panel conversation with Sodexo leadership, students, and Loyola University leadership. Together, they will share how collaboration, student engagement, and student employees power the day-to-day success of this innovative dining program.
This immersive experience offers a holistic look at how technology, culinary strategy, and strong campus partnerships come together to shape the future of university dining.
Tour Format
Walking tour with lunch
Participant Notes
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the summer heat and humidity.
Timing
Departs the Hilton Riverside at 9:30am and returns at approximately 1:30pm