Hospitality and Tourism Administration Top 5
To make it convenient for students to learn hospitality administration, tourism administration and to gain a comprehensive understanding of Canada’s large inbound tourism industry, Centennial College presents its Hospitality and Tourism Administration program. Taking three years to complete and offering students an Ontario College Advanced Diploma, it admits students at three points throughout the year.
Here are the top five reasons this Hospitality and Tourism Administration offering helps to ensure a long-lasting career once students graduate.
Theory-practice balance: In this Hospitality and Tourism Administration offering, equal emphasis is placed on theory and application of that theory. This is why courses cover a full range of business practices in finance, human resource, marketing and industry operations as they apply to the entire hospitality and tourism field through a variety of lectures, case studies, class discussions and projects. In addition, students have the advantage of experiencing the field prior to graduation through a 15-week in a field placement. Field placement allows students to try out what they have learned, gives them a clearer understanding of industry dynamics, increases their knowledge of industry practices and provides a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.
Real-life facilities: The Hospitality and Tourism Administration program is housed at Centennial College’s Progress Campus, which is home to an environment that simulates the real world. This setting includes a full service hospitality management centre, an onsite conference centre and state-of-the-art computer labs. Because they are interacting with real customers and gaining experiences in running facilities much like those they will encounter in the field, students are better prepared than their competition.
Satisfied students: A program’s success is largely based on what graduates have to say. Mary Sardella, a 1998 Hospitality and Tourism Administration grad is now Director of Human Resource for the Four Seasons Hotel. She credits the offering with “[preparing] students for the real working world.” Meanwhile, Brittany Skene, who graduated in 2008, says, “At Centennial, I was taught the ins and outs of the hospitality industry and was able to gain valuable experience through practical studies as well as a great deal of knowledge.”
Access to further education: Sometimes, students use a college program such as Hospitality and Tourism Administration as a steppingstone to further education. In that case, Centennial College makes the transition seamless by aligning itself with articulated program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. These partnerships allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study and include: Vancouver Island University, Royal Roads University (B.C.), Athabasca University, University of New Brunswick, University of Guelph, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), University of Calgary and University of South Carolina (U.S.A.).
Post-graduate options: There is a large number of areas that those who are familiar with hospitality administration and tourism administration can enter once they complete their studies at Centennial College. Specific areas include: hotel financial management, tour coordination, hotel and restaurant general management, housekeeping management, sales and marketing management, human resources management, convention services coordination as well as food and beverage management. Additionally, among the organizations hiring grads of this Hospitality and Tourism Administration program are: SIR Corp, Tourism Toronto, Wyndham International, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Choice International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott Hotels & Resorts.
Applicants to Hospitality and Tourism Administration offering must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older). They must also have the English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment.
