Welcome to the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, located in the Department of Marketing, within the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University. The program prepares students for management positions in multiple segments of the world’s largest service industry. Upon completion, graduates enjoy various professional roles in a variety of industries including: resorts, hotels, restaurants, private clubs, meeting and event planning corporations, destination marketing organizations, convention centers, conference centers, cruise lines, casinos, theme parks, auto rental agencies, sports facilities and arenas, spas, entertainment videos, timeshare and vacation ownership or shared accommodations.

Potential career areas include operations management, sales and marketing, public relations, revenue management, food and beverage, engineering, housekeeping, human resource management, tourism planning and development, hospitality consulting, hospitality law, and many others. Students who choose to major or minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management receive a broad management-based education following the core business curriculum. This base provides a platform of knowledge with the overall focus on improving one's ability to successfully and profitably manage a hospitality or tourism organization.

The Hospitality and Tourism Management program offers a large number of certificates including, Casino and Gaming Management, Club Management, Event Management and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

About

The Hospitality and Tourism Management Program is conveniently located in South Florida, a mecca for hospitality and tourism within the #1 most visited state in the United States. The Hospitality and Tourism Management Program strives to provide a premier educational experience to our hardworking students, who are looking to make a greater impact in their respective fields. Please read more about the Mission of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program as well as the Director's Welcome Message - both are below.

Director's Welcome

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at Florida Atlantic University!

As one of the fastest-growing majors at FAU, the Program includes undergraduate for-credit certificates in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Event Management, Casino and Gaming Management, and Club Management.

The program also offers Executive Education (non-credit) certificates, including the Executive Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Essentials and the Executive Certificate in Event Management.

Our faculty members all have experience in the hospitality industry and are experts across various sectors, including hotels, resorts, private country clubs, restaurants, law, marketing, and finance. Most have held high-level or executive positions within the industry and are recognized leaders in both academia and hospitality.

Florida welcomed 143.3 million visitors in calendar year 2025: another record-setting performance for the Sunshine State. In the fourth quarter of 2025, an estimated 33.5 million visitors traveled to the state, making it the highest fourth quarter visitation on record.

Preliminary estimates show that domestic travelers accounted for 91.5 percent of all visitors in 2025, with 131.1 million Americans traveling to Florida. Overseas visitation reached 9.3 million, while Canadian visitation totaled 2.9 million, consistent with historical trends where Canadian travel represents approximately two percent of total visitation. Florida also experienced continued growth from key international markets, with strong increases from Latin American countries such as Brazil and Argentina, as well as European markets including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. Brazil is now the second-largest international source of visitors to the state. VISIT FLORIDA remains focused on expanding international visitation through strategic marketing efforts.

Florida continues to be the #1 domestic travel destination in the United States and a top choice for international visitors.

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Another Record-breaking Year For Florida Tourism: Florida Welcomes 143.3 Million Visitors In 2025

The hospitality industry is the number one private employer in the state of Florida – if your goal is to find a rewarding and fun career upon graduation, you’ve come to the right place! We welcome you to explore our web site, converse with our faculty, and reach out to our program director. Please email us at hospitality@fau.edu or phone us at 561-297-3666.

Cheers!

Dr. Peter Ricci, EdD

CHA, CHSE, CRME, CHIA, CHRM, HIFIA, CHBA, CHDM

Director, Hospitality and Tourism Management Program

Hospitality and Tourism Mission Statement