On behalf of the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation (HMEF) and the Greater Minneapolis Hotel Association (GMHA), we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the attendees, chefs, students, and bartenders who made this year’s Oktoberfest at Finnegan’s a success.

Together, we raised an incredible $5000 for the future of hospitality. This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the generous support and enthusiasm of our fantastic hospitality community. The contributions made will go a long way in supporting Minnesota’s ProStart and Hospitality Tourism & Management Programs, currently available in over 100 high schools across our great state.

These programs are not only shaping the minds of our future leaders but also addressing the critical hospitality workforce crisis that Minnesota is currently facing. By providing students with the necessary skills and knowledge, we are paving the way for a vibrant future for Minnesota’s hospitality industry.

As we look to the future, we plan to host more exciting events — like our Hospitality Career Student Expo on Halloween — in an effort to provide opportunities for industry leaders to continue empowering the next generation of hospitality professionals. Together, we can overcome industry challenges, inspire innovation, and build a stronger, more dynamic hospitality community that Minnesota can be proud of.

Once again, thank you for joining HMEF and GMHA at Finnegan’s for Oktoberfest. Your presence and generosity have made a lasting impact, and we are incredibly grateful. We’ll see you at the Hospitality Career Student Expo next month!