This is a fun industry, and we’re selling a lifestyle,” Plant said. But executives were on the alert for nerds. Students flew in from prestigious programs including Harvard Business School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the MIT Sloan School of Management. Last year, four of the 12 people accepted into the trainee program played in the tournament. Apprentices perform a variety of high-level jobs, including masterminding marketing strategies and working with general managers to troubleshoot on properties, Plant said.
