SOBEWFF: What Makes FIU's School of Hospitality one of the Best

Out of all of Florida International University's great programs, the Chaplin School of

Hospitality & Tourism Management stands out.

In this post, we'll take a look at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF) and unpack how this world-renowned South Florida event is actually a showcase of all the great opportunities the Chaplin School has to offer.

Eat. Drink. Educate.

The motto of SOBEWFF is to "eat, drink, educate" and it makes you wonder, where exactly does the "educate" part come into play?

Although SOBEWFF may appear to be a commercial event, it's actually the Chaplin School's innovative take on providing its students with hands-on experience in the hospitality industry.

Not only do student volunteers help with everything from culinary to event management, all proceeds from the 4-day event goes to the Chaplin School to provide scholarships to FIU's Hospitality students.

In total, the Wine and Food Festival has raised over $34 million dollars for the Chaplin School, and countless other opportunities for students to exercise their skills and learn from the best in the industry.

SOBEWFF's Legacy for FIU

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival is not just an important contribution to the Chaplin School of Hospitality, it has become one of FIU's most cherished contributions to South Florida.

There are very few opportunities in hospitality education quite like SOBEWFF and it's activities like this that show how much FIU has to offer its students.

Moreover, SOBEWFF's impact on the culture of South Florida and in philanthropic causes has shed a positive light on what FIU has been able to give back to the community. In fact, in 2020 as the pandemic decimated the food and hospitality industry, the leaders SOBEWFF were quick to put together a relief fund that raised over $1.5 million for restaurants in South Florida.

Conclusion

All in all, SOBEWFF is so much more than a wine and food festival. Its contribution to FIU and to South Florida will be seen for years to come and you can see all of it for yourself!

Feel free to visit the festival when it starts this Thursday on February. Check out the festival's wine tasting events and experience all that this amazing event has to offer!