HOSP GALA 2024: Auction Package Team

In Spring 2024,

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I took part in one of Auburn University’s signature hospitality events, the 29th Annual Auburn Hospitality Gala, as part of my coursework for HOSP 5460 – Hospitality Special Events. This course gave me the opportunity to apply classroom concepts in a real-world, high-profile event setting, allowing me to take on a direct role in helping bring the Gala to life.​​

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Held at The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, the Gala is an elegant black tie evening that brings together hospitality professionals, community partners, alumni, and donors. The event is not only a celebration of culinary and event excellence, but also a meaningful fundraiser that supports student scholarships and academic initiatives within the College of Human Sciences.
 

As a member of the Auction Package Team, I was tasked with helping to develop, organize, and present the auction items that guests could bid on throughout the evening. These packages ranged from curated local experiences and travel getaways to food and beverage collections, fine dining vouchers, and themed gift baskets. While the auction featured both silent and live formats, our team specifically focused on creating packages that were visually engaging, well-organized, and clearly described for display and promotional purposes.

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The responsibilities that my team and I had included:

• Collaborating with classmates to brainstorm and source auction items based on value, guest interest, and visual appeal.

• Assembling and arranging items into cohesive packages, ensuring each one was neatly presented, properly labeled, and aligned with the event’s upscale aesthetic

• Coordinating with other teams, including marketing, décor, and logistics, to ensure smooth setup and integration of the auction into the larger event experience. Practicing communication and adaptability, especially when last-minute changes or item updates required quick thinking and problem solving.

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This experience helped me see how even behind-the-scenes tasks in event planning can have a big impact on the overall guest experience. Every detail, from the way an auction item is positioned on a table to how clearly the description is written, plays a role in encouraging guest engagement and supporting the event’s fundraising goals.
 

What made this experience even more valuable was seeing how classroom knowledge could be applied in a live event setting. Concepts like timeline planning, vendor coordination, branding, and customer service were no longer abstract ideas, they became part of my actual responsibilities.
 

More than just an academic assignment, being part of the Auction Package Team gave me a firsthand look at the inner workings of a successful hospitality event and helped me grow as a future event professional. It taught me the importance of teamwork, attention to detail, creative thinking, and understanding the “why” behind every guest-facing element. It also reaffirmed my passion for the event side of hospitality and gave me the confidence to take on larger roles in the future.