Hussam Baloush (’24), The Main Event
Through the pandemic, a stop in Nebraska and starting his degree in Cyber Security, Hussam Baloush (RPTM 2024) eventually found his way to Penn State and event and experience management and found success.
Originally from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Hussam enrolled at the University of Nebraska (Omaha) in Cyber Security. He was excelling academically but wasn’t sure it was the major for him. “I couldn’t imagine myself sitting in front of a laptop in an office all day.” He stuck with it, earning a 4.0 in his first three semesters at college.
And then, COVID and the pandemic hit. “Just like everyone else, I had to return home,” he said. “It was during COVID I decided that I needed a new plan.”
In 2000, the Saudi Arabian government formed the Ministry of Tourism with a goal of shifting Saudia Arabia’s focus to sustainable tourism with a vision of sharing their culture and history with visitors from all over the world. In support of this shift in focus to tourism, the Saudi Arabian government selected three universities where they encouraged Saudi students to earn degrees in tourism.
“The list of three included Las Vegas, Purdue, and Penn State University Park,” said Hussam. “My parents said no to Las Vegas, so I immediately applied to Penn State. I was accepted in six days. I would have applied to Purdue next.”
One of the key decision-making factors in Hussam’s decision was community. “At the University of Nebraska, there were three Saudi students – me and my two brothers. When I got accepted at Penn State, I started calling Saudi students and found out that there were a lot of Saudis at Penn State,” he laughed.
“Since middle school, I was the one planning the parties and events,” said Hussam. “I knew I wanted to be in event management since high school.” A major in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management was the perfect fit.
As he progressed through his education, Hussam found a home away from home at University Park and with the Saudi Arabian community there. “The Saudi Arabian Student Association at Penn State has over 700 members,” he said. Hussam soon found himself in the role of event planner for the Saudi Student Association, planning social, cultural, and educational events. “In the year and nine months I was in that position, I planned 24 events including meetings that supported connections with the embassy and National Day.” National Day in Saudi Arabia is celebrated on September 23 every year and recognizes the 1932 unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Hussam served as President of the Penn State Saudi Student Association in 2023. He proudly shared that as President, he worked with his executive board to apply to the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) at Penn State and secured over $67,000 for their National Day celebration including activities, entertainment, and costs to bring in celebrities.
While Hussam stands out for his on-campus involvement, his career preparation through internships was also outstanding. He completed his pre-internship with The Rig in Saudi Arabia. The Rig, according to their website, is a converted oil rig and “spans an area of more than 300,000 square meters, located 40 km from the coastline near Juraid Island and Berri Oil Field in the Arabian Gulf. The project will include many touristic attractions including three hotels with 800 keys, 11 restaurants, an array of retail shops, on top of thrilling activities and daring adventures above and below the sea.”
Hussam completed RPTM 495A (12 credits) at Le Mer in Al Khobar, a high-end restaurant and meeting and event venue. “We had 3-4 events daily including weddings, company meetings, birthday parties, and festivals.
After graduating in May of 2024, Hussam accepted a position with Sela, an entertainment and hospitality company in Saudi Arabia that focuses on activities and experiences within the tourism sector. “I’m responsible for creating and developing immersive visitor experiences across our Wildlife Projects through concept design, storytelling, and tailored program planning.
This includes crafting engaging narratives, enhancing visitor satisfaction, and ensuring memorable experiences aligned with each destination theme and audience,” he shared enthusiastically. “I’m actively involved in researching and meeting with vendors for stage performances, street roaming acts, food businesses, production services, and gift shop merchandise to deliver high-quality guest experiences.”
Some of these projects include Butterfly Dome, Dolphinarium, Indoor Forest, Dog Festival, and especially Riyadh Zoo. “I was excited to research and propose that we bring in Jay Brewer, an influencer and founder of Reptile Zoo in California to consult on our project,” he said. “I also helped with the design on both the entrance area and the visitor map.”
Future projects for which Hussam will be lending his expertise are Riyadh Safari, Saluki Race, and Falcon Exhibition.
Hussam mentioned he recently interviewed with a different company just to get some additional professional experience. “I stopped them in the interview after they mentioned it would be a desk job. My focus is on guest experiences and interacting with people.”
Hussam offered this advice to international students coming to Penn State. “Look at the options that are connected to your home country. Currently, Saudi Arabia doesn’t have National Parks so a degree or experience with National Parks may not offer you a lot of options. Connect to what is the focus in your home country.”
Hussam Baloush made a connection with Saudi Arabia and Penn State Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management.