Mar 28, 2024  
PUBLISHED 2023-2024 Credit Catalog 
    
PUBLISHED 2023-2024 Credit Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Hospitality and Tourism Management


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Program Description


Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) program will give you hands-on, practical education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to achieve success in the workforce.

During this program, you will develop a strong understanding of the hospitality industry. You will gain knowledge in guest experiences delivery, sales and marketing, and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation. Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality jobs such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires you to be adaptable, enthusiastic and resilient. If you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals, then this career is perfect for you.

The program allows you to choose an area of specialization in Hotel and Accommodations, Restaurant and Service Operations, Beverage Management, Travel and Tourism, Event Management, or Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  A career in hospitality provides many travel opportunities with jobs available all over the globe. When you graduate, your career options will be diverse. Consider an exciting career as a travel agent, event planner, food and beverage manager, hotelier, or start your very own business - the sky’s the limit!

As a Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate, you will have the opportunity to continue into the Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management (BHTM) degree to further your education in the field.

Specializations


Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma students can choose between the following specializations:

  • Hotels and Accommodation: Gain strong hotel industry knowledge on the interconnectivity of all departments that bring a guest experience to life through two practicum placements with leading hotel partners. You will also gain practical experience in front office management, hotel event planning, hotel revenue management and facilities design.
  • Restaurant and Service Operations: Learn service operations management skills through practical, hands-on training in the renowned Highwood restaurant, and through executing special events on and off campus with our key industry partners. Your training will cover beverage and service operations, facility management and design, as well as people leadership and inventory management.
  • Beverage Management: Obtain in-depth beverage product knowledge in non-alcoholic beverages as well as wine, beer and spirits. Training will cover beverage sales and retail operations, inventory control and basic culinary understanding to build your skills in creating sustainable beverage programs.
  • Event Management: This specialization exposes you to all aspects of the event and meeting planning industry, from conventions to live events and festivals. You will gain applied knowledge in contract and stakeholder negotiations, event strategy planning and execution as you bring several events to life on campus and with industry partners, from small- scale VIP events to large events.
  • Travel and Tourism: Gain travel product knowledge to prepare for a career in destination and travel planning. Your training will cover product and reservation systems, itinerary planning and design, special interest and sustainable tourism. You will have the opportunity to connect with industry partners in solving industry problems, and selling and marketing products at our Travel Center on Campus.
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Whether your passion is starting your own hospitality business or to create innovative products within a larger company, this specialization introduces you to the entrepreneurial mindset, design thinking and new venture planning. You will have the opportunity to study current industry trends and identify gaps to help provide creative solutions and drive new product development.  This specialization offers elective opportunities from any other specialization.
  • Multi-Disciplinary: Choose a multi-disciplinary approach and select electives from various specializations to build a customized hospitality and tourism path. You will apply that learning through practical, hands-on operations in the specialization of choice, and through executing special events on and off campus with leading industry partners. 

Program Overview


Fast Facts


  • Co-op work term of 400 industry work hours
  • Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program where students provide their own laptops
  • Choice of specialties: Hotels and Accommodation, Restaurant and Service Operations, Beverage Management, Event Management, Travel and Tourism, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Multi-Disciplinary Specialization

Your Career


When you graduate, you can pursue entry-level careers such as:

  • Hotels and Accommodation: Concierge, Sales/Marketing Coordinator, Management Trainee/Intern, Housekeeper/Housekeeper Supervisor/Lead Housekeeper, Night Audit, Agent: Reservations, Guest Service, Business Center, Room Service
  • Restaurant and Service Operations: Salary Position, AGM/Support Role (Server, Bartender, etc.), Junior Manager/Floor Manager, Server, Bartender, Closing Supervisor
  • Beverage Management: Bartender, Floor Manager, Jr. Sommelier, Wine Captain, Beer Technician, Tasting Room Associate, Freelance Event Work/Events, Wine Administrator/Sales Admin., Sales Rep/Sales Merchandiser, Server/Catering, Marketing PR/Social Media Manager, Mixologist
  • Event Management: Events/Banquets Operations Coordinator/Manager (after 2 years), Resource Development Coordinator, Food and Beverage Coordinator, Special Event Manager (Arts/Non-Profit/Entrepreneur), Event coordinator/Convention Service Coordinator, Wedding Coordinator (Onsite Lead, Set-up/Tear-down), Facilities/Venue Rental Manager (Glenbow, NMC, Inglewood Festival Hall), Volunteer Coordinator (Sports Association), Golf Tournament Coordinators, Event support: Porters, Setup/Takedown Crew, Registration Support
  • Travel and Tourism: Junior Travel Counsellor - General - Specialist, Junior Destination Marketing/Sales, Customer Service/Front Line Roles (i.e. Visitor Information Centre, Airport, Ticketing, etc.), Airline - Sales, Reservation Agent, Guide/iRep - Interpreter and Step-on Guide, Online Travel Agent (OTI), Reception/Office Services, Administrator, Tourism Sales or Marketing Coordinator/Specialist, Junior Supervisor (Team Lead)
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Business Owners - recognize business opportunities, Municipal Bylaw, Property Management/Lease, Marketing and Sales, Seeker of Opportunity, Idea Generator - contributor, Authority - requirements and management, Finance Development (profit/loss/costs), Ability to Assess - viability, current status, scalability, succession or exit, Understanding Self to Outsourcing - to help path to be exponential business
  • Multi-Disciplinary Specialization: Based on a multi-disciplinary approach and a selection of electives from the various specializations a customized hospitality and tourism path allows you to pursue a variety of entry-level careers as listed in the above specializations.

Student Success


To succeed in this program, you should:

  •     Attend and actively participate in all classes
  •     Be prepared to work in teams
  •     Become familiar and adhere to SAIT’s policies and procedures
  •     Have strong written and oral communication skills

If you are engaged in campus life and take advantage of SAIT services and resources, you may be more likely to experience success in SAIT’s programs.

Credentials


After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma.

Accreditation


The Travel and Tourism specialization is also well aligned with the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies’ (ACTA) endorsement standards to allow students who choose to continue with the Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) accreditation.

Professional Designations and Certifications


The program has ensured key certifications in Food Safety and Hospitality and Tourism awareness are incorporated and complete within the program. 

Progression


The progression requirement for students taking credit courses is a Term GPA and Total Institutional GPA of 2.0, with the exception of English Language Foundations and Academic Upgrading programs.

Admission Requirements


Completion of the following courses or equivalents:

  • At least 50% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 or Pure Math 30, or at least 60% in Applied Math 30, AND,
  • At least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1, or at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-2
  • All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

Program Outline


Students take a common core of 16 courses over the length of their program, and select 6 additional courses from one of the specialties: Hotels and Accommodation, Restaurant and Service Operations, Beverage Management, Event Management, Travel and Tourism, or Multi-Disciplinary in order to complete the program as part of their speicalization and applied learning.

Year 1


Year 2


Specializations


Hotels and Accommodation


Restaurant and Service Operations


Beverage Management


Event Management


Travel and Tourism


Entrepreneurship and Innovation


Year 1


Year 2


Multi-Disciplinary


Year 1


Year 2


Total Credits 63


Program Outcomes


Core Program Outcomes

1. Financial Applications - Apply financial and accounting principles to develop solutions to business problems relative to the hospitality and tourism industry, with an emphasis on day to day operational financial acumen.

2. Guest Experience - Exemplify a hospitality mindset with a focus on guest satisfaction and the ability to problem solve with the customer needs in mind.

3. Sales and Marketing - Apply sales and marketing theory and techniques in the hospitality and tourism industry.

4. Professional Capacity/Autonomy - Demonstrate self-awareness, social intelligence and emotional intelligence in establishing relationships. Observe and interpret social environments, adapting professional behaviour to the scenario and respectfully communicating with people of diverse backgrounds and points of view.

5. Leadership and Culture - Display ethical and responsible leadership skills to motivate, train and build effective teams, assuming a variety of roles to achieve common goals and foster a corporate culture that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable.

6. Professional Communication - Communicate professionally and effectively in all business relationships, practicing ethical behaviours to develop relationships with partners, customers and peers.

7. Business Analysis - Apply economic principles, resource planning and data analysis to the hospitality and tourism industry, using appropriate, current and emerging technologies to improve productivity.

8. Strategy - Demonstrate strategic thinking when formulating business solutions.

9. Operations - Apply the interrelated principles of policy, planning and implementation to ensure operational success.

10. Health and Well-Being - Adopt effective strategies to balance demanding industry needs with personal values and priorities to support a healthy lifestyle.

11. Trends and Technology - Demonstrate knowledge of the current state and emerging trends and technology.

Hotels and Accommodation Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Hotel Operations - Demonstrate the ability to manage the interconnection and function of all departments.

13. Financial Application - Manage budget for business operations in a Hotel setting.

14. Space Management and Physical Design - Apply best practices in managing hotel spaces and facilities design.

Restaurant and Service Operations Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Restaurant Operations - Demonstrate the ability to manage both front-of-house and back-of-house operations.

13. Space Management and Physical Design - Apply best practices in managing restaurant spaces and facilities design.

14. Inventory and Costing - Demonstrate the ability to track and manage inventory and menu costing.

Beverage Management Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Beverage Program Operations - Design beverage program from concept to execution.

13. Inventory and Costing - Demonstrate the ability to track and manage beverage inventory and costing.

Event Management Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Event Operations - Produce events that meet client deliverables and performance measures.

13. Project Planning and Costing - Prepare and define project plan outlining scope, budget, communication and risk management.

Travel and Tourism Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Travel and Tourism Operations - Demonstrate the ability to navigate the interconnected Travel and Tourism ecosystem in order to create and deliver travel and tourism experiences.

13. Inventory and Costing - Demonstrate working knowledge of industry-specific systems to manage and cost inventory.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Design Thinking and Innovation - Design and implement a viable client experience.

13. Analysis and Evaluation - Analyze plans for a client experience and evaluate success for implementation.

Multi-Disciplinary Specialization Program Outcomes

12. Financial Application - Manage operational budgets for day to day operations.

13. Operational - Apply best practices in guest experience delivery through operational application.

Graduate Outcomes (SGO)


A. Safety - Awareness of safety standards relevant to the workplace

  • Safety awareness

B. Responsible Leadership - Personal, ethical and respectful behaviour within the workplace and global community

  • Teamwork and multi-disciplinary collaboration
  • Self-Initiative
  • Ethical reasoning and action
  • Global awareness
  • Sustainability

C. Communication - The exchange of information in a professional and effective manner

  • Language skills
  • Interpersonal skills

D. Information Literacy - The strategies used to become informed from recognizing an information need, to accessing and evaluating information and using it effectively and ethically

  • Problem solving and/or Critical thinking
  • Quantitative literacy
  • Technological literacy

E. Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Technical competence specific to the discipline or industry

  • Specialized, technical skill set

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