What is CodeFest?

Do you know how vital technology is to travel and hospitality?

From reservation systems to property management, from mobile apps and websites to content management, from carts and bookings to order fulfilment and backend financials, everything runs on technology!

There are limitless areas for you to find a problem waiting to be solved, or some new untapped opportunity that might change the course of the entire industry.  

Pamplin College of Business has partnered with Marriott International to conduct CodeFest, a competitive event that will bring teams of students together for 48 hours to build functioning prototypes of innovative technology solutions that solve real-world challenges, and tap into novel business opportunities in the travel and hospitality space. Marriott International and its foundation are long-time partners of university.  Marriott International was awarded the Pamplin Corporate Ambassador in 2023.   The Marriott Foundation has supported scholarships, a professorship and the future Feiertag Department of HTM  Hokie Lab that will be located in the interdisciplinary Global Business and Analytics Complex.

This is also a great opportunity for networking and professional exposure.  It also offers students a unique and exciting platform to showcase creativity, apply technical skills, collaborate with peers, and build something that can benefit -- or revolutionize -- the hospitality industry.

During CodeFest, teams comprised of up to five students will work together from Friday evening October 18 through 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, October 20.

Registration and participation in CodeFest is free and open to all VT students in good standing. Participants are not required to join Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott’s loyalty program, however in order to redeem a prize, joining Marriott Bonvoy is required.

After registration, all participating students will receive instructions via Canvas. Teams will be provided with a template for the structure and outline of their presentations.

The event will conclude with a closing ceremony where the winners will be announced, and prizes will be distributed to the top three teams. All members on the winning teams will be awarded prizes.

1st Prize 

• 99,999 Marriott Bonvoy Points to use for travel and stays in Marriott-associated hotels, (# of nights varies based on property and location); purchase experiences, shopping – check out the possibilities: Redemption Information;  AND
• IPad with pencil 
• Average Retail Value $1,700 

2nd Prize

• 77,777 Marriott Bonvoy Points to use for travel and stays in Marriott-associated hotels, (# of nights varies based on property and location); purchase experiences, shopping – check out the possibilities: Redemption Information; AND
• Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones 
• Average Retail Value $1,340 

3rd Prize

• 55,555 Marriott Bonvoy Points to use for travel and stays in Marriott-associated hotels, (# of nights varies based on property and location); purchase experiences, shopping – check out the possibilities: Redemption Information; AND
• Portable Speaker 
• Average Retail Value $747