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Northern Arizona University Offering New Major: International Hospitality Management |
Flagstaff, AZ - Students at School of Hotel
and Restaurant Management at Northern Arizona University have a new way
to get well-grounded before spreading their wings for careers in the hospitality
industry. HRM debuts a new major beginning next fall: the International
Hospitality Management major. The major is the only one of its kind in
the nation, which may prove a selling point both domestically and internationally.
Bert Van Hoof, assistant dean of the HRM school, says the program�s
appeal is not just for those who want to work abroad. �The reality is that
most major U.S. hotels, whether they�re in Chicago, San Francisco, or St.
Louis - have staffs - and guests who are diverse internationally. This
major will give its graduates a bigger experience base from which draw,
because we�ve built in at least one semester abroad and emphasized the
international aspects of marketing and economics.�
There�s also the possibility that students will move through the major in a cohort, which can increase feelings of camaraderie. �Because the curriculum in this major is pretty structured, most students will be taking the classes together, in the same sequence. The cohort idea, of a student having many of the same classmates in each of several classes, is a plus because it can create a natural bond among the students� says Van Hoof. �They develop an identity as a team, and that�s a dynamic that fits in well with the hospitality industry.� The industry has already taken note of the work ethic and professionalism found among HRM�s graduates and has turned to it to fill a management vacuum. Tourism and hospitality enterprises continue a growth mode that has persisted for nearly a decade. Between now and 2005 it is projected that demand for lodging executives and food-and-beverage executives will grow by 30%. Growth in the amusement and recreation sector will be even more aggressive, at a 40% growth. HRM�s Students are recruited so heavily that more than 90 percent of its graduates receive multiple job offers. Within six months of graduation, 97 percent of the students registered with NAU�s Career Services have accepted employment. �With this kind of growth,� says Van Hoof, �It�s no wonder so many students are interested in our degree. We can only expect that by offering them the choice of two majors, we�ll attract even more attention from both students and recruiters.� |
Marilyn McDonald, M.Ed., CHE Coordinator of Public Information School of Hotel & Restaurant Management Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5638 [email protected] 520-523-1916 |
Also See: | Ex-Firefighter Gives $260,000 to Northern Arizona University Hospitality Management Program / Mar 2000 |