Randy Giglio
About Randy Giglio
Middleburg, FL
Hospitality and Tourism Management major
"My Flagler experience was people-first, adaptable, and lightheartedly intense."
2026 Spanish Food and Wine Festival (Manager)
Randy's History Making Moments
What are your central passions, and how do you plan to pursue them after graduation? How have your experiences at Flagler shaped these passions?
My central passion is hospitality and creating meaningful experiences for people through service and leadership. After graduation, I will continue building my career in the hotel industry while pursuing roles that allow me to impact guest experience on a larger scale. Flagler helped shape this passion by giving me both academic knowledge and real-world experience to understand how every detail in hospitality affects people.
Who or what inspired your passion in this area?
Growing up in a tourism-driven area like St. Augustine showed me how impactful hospitality can be in shaping someone’s experience. I’ve also been inspired through hands-on work with guests, where I’ve seen how small actions can make a big difference in someone’s day. My family’s focus on helping others through EPICGOOD also influenced this mindset.
Can you share a memorable story from your time at Flagler that always makes you smile?
One of my favorite memories is waking up at 4 AM with a close friend during my freshman year to watch the World Cup. It was a simple experience, but it stands out because of the excitement, the atmosphere, and just being in that moment together. It’s one of those memories that reminds me how the smallest, unplanned moments in college often end up meaning the most.
Which academic resources, experiences, or mentors at Flagler were most valuable to you, and how did they contribute to your success?
Dr. Rivera, Dr. Cole, Ms. Pruett, and Dr. Holly Donohoe were all incredibly impactful mentors during my time at Flagler. They each played a role in shaping my mindset, professionalism, and growth. All of them changed my life in different ways and helped me become more confident and prepared for my career.
What advice would you give your freshman year self about the college experience?
Don’t rush the process. Focus on building skills, relationships, and experience instead of trying to have everything figured out early. Growth comes from consistency, even during difficult moments.
In the Flagler spirit, how do you hope to make history after graduation?
After graduation, I will be completing a two-month internship at 54 Below in New York City. Long-term, I hope to work in hotel leadership and any role centered around people and creating meaningful guest experiences. My goal is to improve how people feel when they travel, stay, or interact with hospitality spaces.
Randy's Featured Work & Experiences
Awards
- Hospitality and Tourism Management Departmental Award for Academic Achievement
- Dean’s List for three consecutive years
Leadership Experience
- Manager for the Spanish Food and Wine Festival 2026 - Responsible for coordinating operations and supporting guest experience during the event.
Work Experience and Internships
- Worked across multiple departments at the Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel, including housekeeping, front desk, serving, bartending, banquets, and maintenance.
- Hospitality internship experience in the Cayman Islands
- Hospitality internship experience in New York City
Community Involvement
- Helped launch EPICGOOD, which is a family nonprofit founded in memory of Randy's older brother, who passed away due to suicide. The organization promotes kindness, support, and showing up for others in both small and meaningful ways, emphasizing the importance of helping people because you never know what they may be going through.