Fall 2023 Campus Dining Today - 53

A UNIQUE
DINING EXP E R INC E
JOHNS HOPKINS DINING NAVIGATES THE MOVE TO SELF-OPERATION
Brianna Williams
director of marketing,
Hopkins Dining,
Johns Hopkins University
In August 2022, Johns
Hopkins University
(JHU) transitioned to
a self-operated dining
model, providing the
university with a different kind of oversight of its dining
operations. Now under new leadership, the mission of
Hopkins Dining is to cultivate innovative experiences that
nourish the well-being of students, embrace authenticity,
and fulfill their global responsibility. Furthermore, their
vision is to use hospitality and innovation to become an
integral part of the lives of the Johns Hopkins community.
With the new program underway, Hopkins Dining takes
pride in ensuring that their entire dining staff is fully
invested in the program's mission and vision. To help
bridge the gap, the program has developed an acronym
that speaks to each of their key pillars of innovation,
community, global responsibility, nourishment and
authenticity. Create, Represent, Act, Feed and Trust
(CRAFT) was developed to create a simple way to remind
and empower the Hopkins Dining team to craft memorable
guest experiences each day.
Since its inception, Hopkins Dining has made great strides
getting the program up and running while remaining in
alignment with their key principles.
Create = Innovation
One of the unique challenges presented when transitioning
to a self-operated management style is the opportunity
to distinguish the new program from competitors while
developing an experience that is uniquely tailored to the
JHU student. With food being at the forefront of what they
do, Hopkins Dining has used this area as just one vessel to
deliver innovative dining experiences.
" Hopkins Dining's commitment to innovation has been
carefully embedded into the foundation of our newly formed
self-operated program, " said Director of Culinary Innovation
Hamilton Goss. " Through intentional local partnerships,
technology implementation, team structure, collaboration,
and guest feedback mechanisms, our program is committed
to anticipating needs and finding innovative solutions. As our
program continues to grow and develop, we remain resolute
in our approach to cultivating innovative experiences and
providing the Johns Hopkins community an ever-evolving
and comprehensive dining program. "
Represent = Community
Cultivating community is another key component of the new
program. One of Hopkins Dining's goals is to be recognized
as a program that's not exclusive only to meal plan holders
but supports and makes a positive impact on the entire
campus community. In terms of student engagement, their
marketing team works to develop events that provide
enriching, engaging, and fun dining experiences that
students will remember well beyond their years at Hopkins.
Featured events over the past year include Blue Jay Bash,
Local Flavors, Surprise & Delight, and more. Furthermore, the
term " Foodie Flock " (a reference to the university's Blue Jay
mascot) was recently coined as the program's new term to
build community around food.
CRAFTING A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE
| CAMPUS DINING TODAY
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Fall 2023 Campus Dining Today

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