Hospitality Business Management MS - Curriculum

Creating memorable experience is a crucial differentiator for hospitality and tourism enterprises. Guided by the concepts of “hospitality” and “being hospitable”, this course introduces theories and methods that can be utilized during the service encounter to trigger optimal customer experiences through physical, social, and cultural interactions. This course addresses the co-creation of the experiences and value not only from hospitality and tourism service providers but also from the engagement of customers. The course puts an emphasis on the design of the customer journey, including theming, storytelling, and sensory, as well as unfolding customer experience in the phygital (physical and online) platform. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course provides an overview of lodging operations from a variety of aspects. These include types of lodging operations and ownership (chain, franchise, leasing, and management contract), guest cycle and the establishment of organizational structures. Also covered are lodging revenue management from forecasting, pricing models, overbooking, interpreting financial statements, and the application of lodging technology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the lodging operations. Lecture 3 (Fall).

This course introduces students to the role and functions of a hospitality asset manager. This course provides students the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to apply real estate tactics and strategies to maximize asset performance. Students will learn the different analyses that lead to investment, branding, and operational decisions. Asset managers are responsible for capital investment decisions, negotiating hotel management contracts, and creating value for investors and brand owners. Students will learn how to balance the interests of investors, owners, and franchisors to create maximum value for each through appropriate operational and financial decisions. (Prerequisites: HSPT-730 and HSPT-745 and HSPT-755 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course introduces students to the application of data analytical methods and software in the analysis and management of hospitality operations. The hospitality industry is among the most data-intensive industries and this course prepares students to identify, collect, and analyze data in support of organizational decision-making. Students will learn the application of data analytics in improving industry revenues, optimizing and managing marketing programs, and in human capital management. (Prerequisites: HSPT-730 and HSPT-745 and HSPT-755 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).

This course is practical, project-based approach to a more traditional master's thesis. Students in the course will design and develop a project which reflects a viable option for an existing or putative organization. After a review of essential project management and planning skills as well as financial skills, the student designs and develops the project with continual review and feedback from the supervising faculty. Project 3 (Spring, Summer).