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EIU Hospitality and Tourism

Hospitality and Tourism

The mission of the Hospitality and Tourism program is to develop students to be successful and ethical managers and entrepreneurs in the global hospitality and tourism industry.

The Hospitality and Tourism Industry is one of the largest in the world and provides graduates with global opportunities to be managers in dynamic environments such as hotels, restaurants, events, country clubs, resorts, convention centers, and amusement parks.


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Our program offers a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism which includes a foundation of business or entrepreneurship courses and an industry based internship. Typical career paths for graduates of the program include Hotel General Managers, Sales and Convention Managers, Wedding Planners, Group Sales and Meeting Managers, Dining Room Managers, Human Resource Managers, and Franchisee Support Managers. A minor in Meeting and Event Management provides career opportunities in a variety of settings, including hotels, convention centers, corporate business, and wedding venues.

Mission

The mission of the Hospitality and Tourism program is to develop students, at the undergraduate level, to be successful and ethical managers and entrepreneurs in the global hospitality and tourism industry. The curriculum builds on Business Administration and Entrepreneurship minors by integrating hospitality and tourism industry applications in upper level courses. The program has a focus on foodservice, lodging, and event management with related areas such as club management, resort management, sustainability, and convention management. Integrated throughout the curriculum is an emphasis on practical skills and authentic learning experiences, a management focus, and a global perspective.

Student Learning Objectives:

  1. Demonstrate effective communication skills for the hospitality and tourism industry using written, oral, and technological formats.
  2. Analyze problems and apply managerial solutions utilizing quantitative reason concepts and critical thinking skills.
  3. Develop an awareness of ethical values and social responsibility in a multicultural environment.
  4. Demonstrate functional and operational skills relevant to the hospitality and tourism industry.

Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Council

The Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Council is comprised of industry professionals who graciously donate their time and expertise to help guide the development of the HTM program. Click here for more information on the HTM Advisory Council.



Don't take our word for it

“The courses and staff at Eastern really prepared me for the hospitality industry. The coursework was easy to understand and relatable to the field. I'm currently a Sales Manager at Aloft Hotels and I'm certain that my education from Eastern is the driving factor pushing me through this field.”

Michael Lynch (2016)
Group Sales Manager - Aloft Hotels

“Changing to Hospitality my second year at EIU was one of the best decisions I could have made. I have always had a passion for customer service and I love networking with hospitality professionals. I am lucky to do so with my job as a wedding transportation coordinator. My courses, professors, and internship through this program gave me the knowledge and experience that I continue to carry with me today.”

Bailey Regalado (2017)
Wedding Transportation Coordinator - Windy City Limousine & Bus Worldwide

“The foundation of my career is all thanks to my courses and professors from EIU. From learning the fundamentals of what it means to excel in every facet of Hospitality to the great networking opportunities from the speakers that spoke to our class, it will stay with me for the remainder of my career. The Hospitality industry is surprisingly small, and the classmates I was lucky enough to graduate with are now some of my closest colleagues here in Chicago. The professors give you real life exposure that you cannot just learn from books, and being able to apply that once you’re in the working world gives you an advantage that no other degree can offer.”

Courtney Kaczor (2014)
Corporate Sales Manager at Hotel Chicago, Autograph Collection by Marriott

“From the invaluable courses to the entire faculty that strives for your success, this program played a major role beyond graduation.  The hospitality program earned me internships with Entertainment Cruises in Chicago and the Disney College Program in Walt Disney World.  This journey has lead me to making magic around the world with the Disney College and International Programs team.”

Akihito Kneeld "AK" (2011)
Coordinator for College International Recruitment - Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

“The small class sizes and high caliber of teaching gave me all of the skills I needed to successfully enter the Hospitality Industry right out of college. The education I obtained from the Hospitality program at EIU has made it possible for me to flourish in various roles within the industry. I am currently the Corporate General Manager of a multi-million dollar restaurant group that includes Tiny Lounge in Lincoln Square, Tiny Tavern on Navy Pier and Tiny Tapp/ Tiny Cafe on the Chicago Riverwalk.”

Phil Rizzo (2016)
Corporate General Manager

“The hands on learning experience with instructors and outside of the box courses in the Hospitality Program at EIU absolutely provided me with the tools I needed to build a successful career in this industry. I’ve been planning conferences in hotels for seven years and have applied the knowledge gained from my education every single day. The beautiful thing about working in the hospitality industry is that each day you learn something new, always interacting with different people. It keeps life fun and interesting!”

Jessica Finnery (2011)
Conference Service Manager - Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa

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