Research Cornell's School of Hotel Administration thoroughly. Look through their website carefully, at http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu, and find out about what they are looking for, what their curriculum entails and any other background about the school. This information will be helpful in guiding you when applying because you can tell the school why you want to attend Cornell.
Contact the school and visit Cornell, if possible. Making contacts with people in the department will illustrate your interest in the school and will also give you a clear idea of what the School of Hotel Administration will be like to attend.
Research the criteria for applying. For undergraduates, Cornell requires the SAT or ACT, the math SAT, a well-rounded high school education and an admissions interview. Graduate students will need a resume, high undergraduate GPA, GMAT scores and letters of evaluation as well as an interview. Look carefully into what each program wants in new students.
Fill out the application carefully. In the case of graduate school, include relevant work experience, management skills and academic achievement in a clearly laid out resume. You want to highlight all the of the characteristics that make you an ideal candidate for the School of Hotel Administration.
Request letters of recommendation from people that appreciate the work you have done. Selecting people who will give you a unique and convincing letter of recommendation will greatly improve the portfolio you send out to Cornell.