Hospitality
is a way of life here in San Diego and Southwest Riverside counties, directly
or indirectly employing 173,000 area residents. The San Diego Tourism Authority is projected a
record year for tourism in in San Diego in 2015 -- $9.9 billion in visitor
spending, 34 million visitors and $266 million in transient occupancy tax
contributions to San Diego County city governments. We
believe they hit their mark. (In San
Diego County alone, one in eight jobs is currently tourism related.)
This past year we’ve launched
several programs to meet the educational and training needs of people at every
level of the organization including those seeking to identify their niche in
the field and those seeking senior-level certification or a specialized MBA.
What’s unique is that each of
these programs was developed in partnership with industry and many classes are
taught by leaders in the field so they address the needs identified by those
who are at the forefront. There’s also an applied or practicum component where
students have the opportunity to put their learning to use in the field.
The “Professional
Certificate in the Business of Hospitality” is designed for those who are considering a
career in the field or seeking to understand their growing role in the
field. This non-credit program gives
participants an overview of all key functional areas from finance and HR to
operations and customer service. The
full certificate incorporates seven topic areas of study. “This program is a
great example of the University’s commitment to meeting the needs of North
County’s hospitality sector, “ says Doug Yavanian, Community Relations Liaison
at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa who is also a member of the CSU Alumni
Council, Chancellor’s Hospitality Advisory Board and CSUSM Hospitality Advisory
Board.
A specialization in Hospitality & Tourism Management is also available as part of the MBA program. Alternatively, students can also choose individual credit-based courses from the MBA curriculum or they can complete a set of six predetermined graduate level courses to receive an “Advanced Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management. “ Courses being offered this spring include Hospitality Revenue Management and Employment Best Practices.
Ed Fuller an internationally
known leader, educator and author who formerly served as president and managing
director of Marriott International says, “this is the perfect combination,
uniting the strength of the university’s MBA program wish the need of the
expanding hospitality industry.”
On Saturday April 1 we will be joining
forces with the San Diego North Economic Development Council to host a Connected
Tourism Summit on campus from 7 am – 2 pm featuring industry speakers and
panels, as well as a career fair. This event is open to the public with
reservations required. Please call 760-750-4004 to learn more.
Do you have ideas about
professional development certificates or degrees we ought to be
investigating? If so, please reach out
to me at eldean@csusm.edu . Thank you!
