The first public college established in Toronto, Centennial College has been training students since 1966. Its School of Hospitality is well respected for ensuring that any program under its umbrella teaches students business topics (marketing, human resources, finance, and industry operations) in addition to hospitality-specific ones. In addition, many of the School of Hospitality offerings include a hands-on component such as a field placement or internship during which students apply what they have learned in-class and obtain new knowledge.
Intake for the programs in the School of Hospitality occurs three times a year with start dates varying from year to year but generally occurring in late August or early September, early January and early May. Classes finish at the end of April or early May, depending on the calendar, unless a student chooses to fast track and take summer courses. Students are timetabled for approximately 20 to 25 hours per week, with classes being scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
School of Hospitality programs are conducted out of Progress Campus, which has many on-campus facilities and tools to ensure that students gain hands-on experience prior to graduation. For example, students may train for the food and beverage or restaurant management industries at the on-campus Horizon Restaurant. At this living lab, students learn everything from preparing freshly made food and serving to scheduling, reservation recommendations and menu management. In addition to the restaurant, School of Hospitality students also practice their skills at the Centennial Conference Centre. Comprised of eight meeting rooms (including two large ballrooms and a variety of meeting rooms), it provides ample opportunity for students to have real life encounters. Uniformed in traditional black attire, students take pride in their work, paying attention to the smallest details and ensuring that every event is truly flawless.
The combination of academic learning and hands-on practice described is offered to students via full-time School of Hospitality programs such as: Event Management (Festival and Conference); Food & Beverage Management (Food and Beverage Management, Kitchen Management, Baking – Commercial Bakeries); Hotel and Resort Management (Hospitality Foundations, Hospitality Services, Hotel and Resort Management, and Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Management); and Tourism & Travel Operations (Hospitality and Tourism Administration, Tourism Management – Cultural and Heritage Tourism, Culture and Heritage Site Management, and Tourism & Travel).
Programs offered at the School of Hospitality vary in prerequisites. It is recommended that students carefully note the requirements of their program of choice before applying.