Hospitality and Tourism Administration Program Ensures Diverse Range of Career Opportunities for Grads

What good is a post-secondary program if it can't guarantee its students a range of post-graduate options? After all, college and university programs are the vessels that launch students' careers or help them transition into further education should that be part of their goal. Centennial College has a longstanding reputation for launching students into success by ensuring they are totally career ready and by forging relationships with other institutions that allow students to meet their educational goals by applying credits to bypass certain courses and graduate in less time.

Centennial College's Hospitality and Tourism Administration is an excellent example of a program that presents students with a host of options once they graduate. If students are ready to launch their careers, they may do so in administrative positions in areas that cover the entire hotel industry, including: financial management, housekeeping management, food and beverage management, human resources, sales and marketing management, general management, convention services coordination and tour coordination.

This wide range of options ensures that students of the program will certainly find a career that is in their area of interest. Students who, on the other hand, wish to obtain more education can use Centennial College's partnerships with selected universities, institutes and professional associations to their advantage. This program's partners are: Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Vancouver Island University, University of Calgary, University of Guelph, University of New Brunswick, University of South Carolina (U.S.A.) and Royal Roads University (B.C.).

There are many other benefits to the program. Firstly, it takes three years to complete, which ensures that students are obtaining a thorough education and are being exposed to cover many topics that will fully prepare them, including: dimensions of tourism, hospitality and tourism marketing, theory of food, world geography for tourism, presenting and communicating effectively, Ontario culture and heritage tourism product, front office operations, wholesale tour operations, meeting and convention management, groups and incentives, responsible tourism and marketing strategies.

Secondly, it balances theory and application of that theory. Hands-on practice is especially beneficial because it allows students to become comfortable with the tasks they will complete — and there are plenty of chances for students to practice on-campus. That's because the tourism and hospitality administration offering is based at Progress Campus, which is home to all School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture programs and includes a conference centre that is run by students, a restaurant that serves as a living lab as well as residences, which give students the opportunity to interact with “guests” and see how a hotel operates.

Another way in which students receive hands-on practice is to actually be sent into the field to experience how their positions function in the real world and how they will fit in with all of the other hotel departments. The four-day-per-week, 15-week field placement takes place in the final semester of the offering. It can be used to enhance students' resume.

Career Outlook for Hospitality and Tourism Administration Program

The hospitality and tourism industry is diverse and includes several sectors, such as attractions, sightseeing, adventure tourism, culture and heritage tourism, food and accommodation, transportation, events and conferences, tourism services, general management, housekeeping management, sales and marketing of tourism products and facilities management.

The industry offers unlimited career opportunities to hospitality and tourism graduates. They may be employed in the areas of general management of a hotel, restaurant or travel operator as well as in specific areas, such as financial management, marketing, human resources management, front office operations, wholesale tour operations, kitchen and dining room practices, or hospitality accounting.

So, what exactly you can do after graduating from a post-secondary hospitality administration program? Well, it depends upon the type of course you have undergone. Some courses prepare you for events management while some for food service, restaurant management or travel agency operations. Centennial College's three-year post-secondary diploma in hospitality administration provides you with knowledge and skills that are transferrable across various roles in hospitality industry. It's an intensive and all-inclusive program that prepares you for a range of careers.

• Tour Coordination: Tour coordination typically involves planning, cost evaluation, logistics planning, making travelling and lodging arrangements, and dealing with clients and partners. It involves multi-taking and juggling several schedules at once. Centennial College's tourism administration program equips you with strong multi-tasking, team-work, communication, and planning and organizational skills and abilities, helping you build rewarding careers in this field.
• Convention Service Coordination: This involves communicating with the staff, conventional personnel and clients to make arrangements for conferences, meetings, workshops, events or conventions. It involves communicating with the clients to determine their needs and objectives, arranging the required equipment, coordinating accommodation and food, transportation and facilities and security for people attending the events, and overseeing related operations. The program in hospitality and tourism equips you with the skills required to perform this job.
• Hotel General Management: Hotel and restaurant general management involves day-to-day management of hotel/restaurant and its staff. Depending upon the size and type of hotel, the scope of the job spans from planning and organizing catering, accommodation and other services, promoting and marketing business, maintaining financial records, supervising supplies and staff, and dealing with customer complaints. Centennial College's program in hospitality and tourism offers you the skills required to efficiently perform this job.
• Housekeeping Management: Housekeeping management involves supervising the work activities of housekeeping staff and assigning them duties, inspecting their work, investigating complaints, taking corrective actions and adhering to sanitation and hygiene standards. It also involves managing inventories, training new employees and motivating staff to give their best.
• Food and Beverage Management: Food and beverage management involves managing catering, food and beverage preparation, controlling costs, and managing hotel food service operations. Centennial College's program helps you master skills in the areas of dining room practices, kitchen management, bartending, and kitchen staff management.

These are just a few career options that you may choose upon graduating a hospitality and tourism administration program. However, the career opportunities in this industry are endless. If you wish to be a part of this ever growing industry, you may consider enrolling in this course.

A Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Administration Opens Doors to a World of Employment Opportunities

Centennial College's three-year post-secondary program in hospitality and tourism administration prepares you to work in diverse sectors of hospitality, travel and tourism industry. The program provides exposure to all possible aspects of the industry, including hotel and restaurant general management, housekeeping management, hospitality and tourism marketing, kitchen and dining room management, customer relationship management, food and beverage management, facilities management, hotel sales and marketing, convention planning and management, tourism law and security, tourism entrepreneurship, tour coordination, event planning and many more.

Not only this, it also covers a full range of business practice, preparing you to work in the areas of human resources, financial management, hospitality accounting, budgeting, and industry operations in the entire tourism and hospitality field. This means that the program offers a comprehensive understanding of the Canadian tourism industry and excellent employment prospects.

Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Tourism and hospitality industry makes Canada's largest employment sector, employing over 1.6 million Canadians from coast to coast at different operational and managerial levels. The industry generates annual revenue of around $61 billion and is expected to grow further. This can be directly associated with increased employment opportunities in various tourism and hospitality sectors.

However, in order to build a rewarding career in this field, you need to undergo specialized education and training in hospitality and tourism. Despite constantly improving employment prospects, the job marketing is getting fiercer day by day. Employers are keen on hiring highly qualified professionals who can help them sustain and grow in a fiercely competitive business environment, while constantly driving innovation and enhancing customer service standards.

Hospitality and Tourism Administration Program

A diploma program in tourism and hospitality administration offers you comprehensive understanding of the large inbound tourism industry in Canada. You will study about every possible aspect of hospitality and tourism, including food and beverages, travel and accommodation, sanitation, safety and hygiene, cultural and heritage tourism, customer services, professional communication, report writing, food, beverages and labour cost control, meeting, convention and event management, issues in hospitality industry and special events.

Choosing the Right Program

Numerous Canadian colleges offer post-secondary diploma programs in tourism and hospitality management. But not all are accredited. Choosing the right program involves a number of factors. It's important to consider if the program you're applying for:

• Is recognized
• Provides industry exposure
• Offers much required computer education
• Offers strong employment prospects
• Allows you to apply our credits towards further study

Centennial College's three-year diploma program and hospitality and tourism administration is accredited by UNWTO TedQual. The college also houses a full service hospitality management centre and an onsite conference centre where you can get hands-on training. It also incorporates a four-days-per-week, 15-week industry field placement in final semester, allowing you to put their classroom learning into practice and gain relevant industry contacts.

The program also offers strong employment prospects to students. You are prepared to work in all sectors of tourism and hospitality industry. Not only this, you may apply your academic credits towards a university degree in this discipline.

Hospitality and Tourism Administration Puts You In Leadership Role

Tourism and hospitality areas such as hotel and restaurant general management, human resources, sales and marketing, convention services coordination, tour coordination, food and beverage, housekeeping, hotel financial management all require professionals with a distinct set of skills that includes knowledge of administration.

At Centennial College's Hospitality and Tourism Administration students gain "…a mixture of the hospitality side, where you get to learn how the hotel operates from scratch … After that, you get to learn how the tourism industry operates, says grad Lexina. "Of course you can get a job. When I graduated, I had a job two weeks after graduation."

Lexina's testimonial is backed by stats. As Canada's largest employment sector, tourism and hospitality boasts revenues in excess of $61 billion, employing over 1.6 million Canadians from coast to coast.

Here is a closer look as to how Centennial College prepares students for the field in three years.

• Students are admitted at three points throughout the year.
• UNWTO TedQual fully accredits the offering.
• Courses cover a full range of business practices in marketing, human resources, finance and industry operations. What sets this training apart is that topics are covered in a way that applies to the entire hospitality and tourism field.
• Among specific topics that students study are: dimensions of tourism, beverage knowledge and bartending, theory of food, world geography for tourism, kitchen and dining room practices, presenting and communicating effectively, customer relationship management, groups and incentives, issues in hospitality and tourism, hospitality and tourism entrepreneurship and more.
• Some classes are carried out in living labs that offer students hands-on practice.
• Centennial College's Progress Campus features a full service hospitality management centre, an onsite conference centre and state-of-the-art computer labs.
• In addition to on-campus training, students also partake in a field placement that lasts 15 weeks.
• The final semester placement provides significant work experience in approved jobs within the hospitality and tourism industry, enabling students to relate classroom theory to real world scenarios, while adding another facet to their career grounding. As such, students come to better understand the dynamics of the industry, increase their knowledge of industry practices and gain a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

Those who wish to continue their education in tourism and hospitality administration may do so seamlessly thanks to Centennial College's standing in the community and educational partnerships. These partnerships allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study and include: Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Vancouver Island University, University of Calgary, University of Guelph, University of New Brunswick, University of South Carolina (U.S.A.) and Royal Roads University (B.C.).

If, however, graduates wish to launch their careers, they may do so with reputable companies. Among the companies that previously hired Centennial College grads are: Tourism Toronto, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham International, Choice International and SIR Corp.

Building Careers in Hospitality and Tourism Administration

Travel and tourism is currently the largest and fastest growing industry in Canada. Employing over 1.6 million Canadians directly or indirectly, the industry is expected to create more jobs in the coming years. It is an exciting time to be a part of this evolving, fast-paced and dynamic industry.

Excellent career opportunities for hospitality and tourism professionals are available in the areas of sales and marketing management, hotel and restaurant general management, human resources management, hotel financial management, tourism management, tour coordination, food and beverage management, convention services coordination and housekeeping management. More unique career opportunities with multi-cultural perspectives also exist in tourism and hospitality industry.

However, in order to be a part of this ever-evolving industry and grab unique job opportunities, prospective professionals need to have undergone an unparalleled and well-rounded education and comprehensive training that position them employment-ready. Not only is strong theoretical foundation in Canadian tourism industry required, but they need to acquire a full range of business skills in industry operations, finance, human resources, marketing, hospitality, customer relationship management, tourism law and security, and facilities management.

Hospitality Administration Programs in Canada

Centennial College's three-year post-secondary hospitality and tourism administration program prepares students for careers in positions ranging from even coordinators to tour coordinators, catering managers, housekeeping managers, guest service executives and facility managers. The hospitality program incorporates a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on practice at college's full service hospitality management centre and an onsite conference centre and a fifteen-week, four-day-per-week, field placement in a real world setting.

The program, accredited by UNWTO TedQual, reflects high learning standards and is considered as one of the most prestigious programs in tourism and hospitality administration in Canada. Students graduating from this program can transit directly into the industry or study further to complete a university degree in hospitality and tourism.

The hospitality and tourism program is designed to help students gain an in-depth understanding of dimensions of tourism, hospitality and tourism marketing, food theory, bartending, kitchen and dining room practices, cultural and heritage tourism, meeting and convention management and issues in hospitality and tourism. Students are also prepared to handle

• Front office operations
• Wholesale tour operations
• Hotel sales and marketing
• Hospitality accounting
• Sales and marketing of tourism products
• Tourism report writing
• Issues in hospitality and tourism
• Organize and manage special events
• Sanitation, safety and hygiene requirements

The program graduates can find employment with hotels, resorts, tour operators, event management companies, and other organizations operating in this industry.

Application Submission

To apply for this program, students need to submit their secondary school diploma or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years old) and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent. Those who do not fulfill English proficiency requirements must take the college's English Skills Assessment for admission.

Students currently in high school can also apply for this program. Their midterm and final term goals will be automatically transmitted to the college. The applications can be submitted online, through mail or in person along with a non-refundable application fee.

Career Options Associated with a Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Administration

A diploma or degree in hospitality and tourism allows graduates to be a part of one of the world's fastest growing industries. Jobs as hotel and restaurant general managers, sales and marketing managers, convention services coordinators, human resources managers, tour coordinators, food and beverages managers, housekeeping managers, hotel financial managers, restaurant and catering managers, customer care managers and customer care managers are quite popular.

Nowadays, careers also exist in accommodation booking, arranging transportation or logistics, organizing tours, planning and organizing events, leisure and heritage tourism, travel consulting and tourism management. The hospitality and tourism industry offers ample of job opportunities to individuals with specialized education and relevant hands-on experience. With this, the nature of education further widens the career prospects.

What Do Students Gain by Studying Hospitality and Tourism Administration?

By enrolling in a hospitality and tourism administration program, the students gain an in-depth understanding of various dimensions of tourism, hospitality and tourism marketing, food theory, sanitation, safety and hygiene, cultural and heritage tourism, kitchen and dining room practices, hospitality accounting, customer relationship management, front office operations, wholesale tour operations, hotel sales and marketing, housekeeping and facilities management, meeting and convention management, responsible tourism, marketing strategies, and law and security.

The program is designed in such a way that students gain knowledge in all aspects of tourism and hospitality administration. The program graduates also demonstrate good communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical-thinking and problem solving skills and the ability to work in a team, plan and organize things and work under pressure to meet time deadlines.

Choices upon Course Completion

The program graduates have two choices - (1) they can pursue their careers in diverse areas of tourism and hospitality, such as general management, supervision, sales and marketing, tour coordination, housekeeping management, financial management, event planning, etc; (2) they can choose to study further. The program graduates are allowed to apply their credits earned during this program towards a more advanced course in tourism or hospitality at any of the universities and institutes associated with their college. This helps them seek better paying and more advanced or managerial level jobs.

Eligibility Requirements for Studying Tourism and Hospitality Administration

Students interested in enrolling in a post-secondary tourism and hospitality administration program must complete their secondary education and demonstrate proficiency in English language. In order to apply for this program, they need to submit an application form along with a copy of secondary school diploma certificate and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent. Students currently in high school can also apply for this program. Their midterm and final term scores will be automatically transmitted to the college.

Studying Hospitality and Tourism Administration in Canada

Centennial College's three-year post-secondary hospitality and tourism administration program is considered to be one of the most prestigious programs in the country. It is accredited by UNTWO TedQual and incorporates classroom learning and an internship with their industry partners. The focus is on helping students build strong foundation and gain hands-on experience in real world setting, which is a necessary condition to seek employment after course completion.

Hospitality and Tourism Administration students start their careers through practical college experience

Tourism continues to be a fast-growing industry around the world. Canada expands its hospitality administration sector to assist businesses and enhance the economy. Professionals with a college background in administration, specific to the industry, are able to obtain high-quality jobs, so it is imperative that students learn about the business side of the hospitality and tourism sector. Centennial College offers an advanced diploma from the Hospitality and Tourism Administration (1805) program, which educates young learners early on about the challenges in this field.

"What makes it unique is that Centennial College offers a four-month placement program. Students are out for four days a week and they come in for the fifth day for school just to review what they've learned. We find that this is a great opportunity as the students get to do a lot of networking while they are out on placements, and they get the opportunity to meet new people and to get possible job potential positions," says Shirley Merith, professor at the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture.

Here are the top 10 reasons why you should enroll in this Tourism Administration program at Centennial College:

• Tourism ranks fourth in industry growth, according to the World Tourism Organization. This would mean many of opportunities, including an expansion and creations of jobs.
• Centennial offers an outstanding hospitality program in tourism with a mixture of business perspectives, to ensure that students understand the operations and strategies of businesses in the industry.
• The program begins in the fall, winter, and summer semesters, giving applicants the ability to choose the best time for them to enroll and study.
• The college infuses real-life examples, case studies, relevant projects, and other practical experience into each course, to prepare students to communicate and analyze issues in the workplace.
• Students study at Progress campus and it is where Centennial's Horizons Restaurant is also located, where hospitality students can practice their service skills.
• Students looking for a part-time job can apply at the Centennial College Residence and Conference Centre, where they can earn some money while working in the industry. Students can start in front desk, housekeeping, sales, and other areas, where they will meet industry professionals and network with them.
• Students learn about a variety of administrative and management principles within the industry, which enables them to be capable of working in a variety of areas, such as food and beverage, human resources, events, and hotel and restaurant general management.
• The three-year program includes a senior course called Special Events Practicum, dedicated to teach students how to plan and implement a real event on school grounds.
• The sixth semester is saved for a field placement, where students gain exposure in the industry from an on-the-job training. Many students learn a lot from this practical experience and forged relationships with professional contacts.
• Graduates have successfully attained jobs in the industry, including these employers: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham International, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, and Tourism Toronto.

Program graduates have successfully transitioned to another milestone in their career. Some have continues their studies using credits from their Hospitality and Tourism Administration program with Centennial university partners. Others are working in the hospitality and tourism industry as Tour Coordinators, Sales and Marketing Coordinators, Human Resources Generalists, Special Events Coordinator, and Service Managers.

Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Administration - Program Information and Career Prospects

The hospitality and tourism industry is diverse and spans across various sectors including, but not limited to:

• Office management
• Hotel and restaurant management
• Food and beverage management
• Housekeeping management
• Travel operations
• Conference management
• Tour organization – both domestic and international
• Human resource management
• Event planning and management
• Cultural and heritage tourism
• Facilities management
• Customer relationship Management
• Meeting and convention management

The industry offers diverse career choices, but it is fiercely competitive. Those who haven't obtained formal education and training have fewer chances of getting a decent-paying job in this field. A post-secondary diploma program in hospitality and tourism administration opens doors to numerous career opportunities. 

With a formal diploma program, individuals can assume responsibilities related to planning, coordinating, organizing and customer service. In addition to this,

Career Prospects

Tourism and hospitality sector in Canada boasts of generating revenues in excess of $61 billion, employing over 1.6 million Canadians. However, employers are keen on hiring professionals who have undergone a formal training and have hands-on-experience.

Graduate in tourism and hospitality administration can find employment with hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise companies, foodservice companies, travel and tour operators, resorts, vacation planners, casinos, event management firms and public sector companies in Canada.

The professionals can work as tour planners and coordinators, sales and marketing professionals, event coordinators, lodging managers, facilities coordinators and managers, front desk staff, meeting and convention planners, financial accountants, gaming supervisors, activity coordinators, tour guides, camp counselors, administrative assistants, customer service representatives and recreation managers.

A large part of their job comprises of customer service, planning and coordination; however, specific roles and responsibilities may differ depending upon the job title, company they are employed with and work experience.

Hospitality and Tourism Administration Program

Centennial College's three-year diploma in hospitality and tourism administration provides students a comprehensive understanding of tourism industry in Canada, covering a full range of business practices in areas of human resources, marketing, finance and industry operations.

First Year

The program covers a wide range of subjects including dimensions of tourism, hospitality and tourism marketing, beverage knowledge and bartending, sanitation, safety and hygiene and theory of food in the first semester. During the second semester, students learn about cultural and heritage tourism, kitchen and dining room practices, hospitality accounting and business communication and presentation.

Second Year

The third semester is designed to provide students an understanding of Ontario culture and heritage tourism, customer relationship management, professional communication, front office operations, principles of hospitality management and wholesale tour operations. In the fourth semester, students develop an understanding of hotel sales and marketing, housekeeping and facilities management, meeting and convention management and principles of food, beverage and labour cost controls.

Third Year

Students study marketing strategies, responsible tourism, hospitality and tourism law and security and hospitality and tourism entrepreneurship in the fifth semester. The sixth semester is dedicated to provide students hands-on-experience through field placement.

The program combines classroom learning, lab practice and field placement. Graduates of this program can either pursue a career in the field of hospitality and tourism or choose to study further by enrolling in a degree program.

Enrolling in a Post-Secondary Hospitality and Tourism Program

To apply for this program, you need:

• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent

Students currently in high school are also eligible to apply for this program.

Business savvy skills needed in the Hospitality and Tourism industry

Targeting on a few industries to tailor your career can be hard, especially if you have yet to choose your career path. However, knowing what positions and work environment you are interested in can help in choosing your career. If you are a business student at heart and enjoy the enchanting world of travel, consider combining both passions together to form a business career in the hospitality and tourism industry. Start with hospitality administration in Toronto from a reputable college that will propel your career in administration and management careers in companies dealing with hospitality services and tourism details.

The Hospitality and Tourism Administration (1805) program from the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture at Centennial College indulges its students to culinary and hotel operations, with focus on marketing, human recourses, operations, and accounting. It is comprised of a wide array of courses, including on-the-job experience to put the theory in practice. Here are some of the exciting adventures offered in the three-year program:

• Marketing courses: Graduates must be prepared to understand the planning and execution of company promotions, special events, and other marketing-related activities. The program includes several marketing courses, focusing on sales and marketing strategies of hotels and other organizations in the hospitality and tourism sector. Students will study consumer behaviours and market segmentation, which will eventually lead to a developed marketing plan.
• Food and beverage courses: Students will learn about the health and safety practices in the food services in the hospitality and tourism industry, from kitchen and dining room practices to bartending techniques. They will also get the learn how to make drink recipes and prepare meals and desserts. In addition, the business side of food and beverage area will be examined, concerning menu planning, and customer satisfaction.
• Communication courses: In order to excel in the services industry, communication is vital to the core of the business. Maintaining good customer relationships and coordinating with colleagues professionally will lead to a successful business operation. Report writing techniques will be taught so students can write and present industry-specific analysis.
• Financial Accounting courses: The food and labour cost for will be examines to reduce waste and help businesses become more efficient. Furthermore, budgets and financial decisions will be explored to show how businesses in the industry run profitably.
• Human Resources courses: Since graduates of this program can apply for management positions, students must learn how human resources are allocated since hospitality managers are highly-involved in employee development. Students will learn the process of hiring new employees, employee training and development, employee motivation and morale, and employee schedules.
• Practical training: The Special Events Practicum class is divided into theory and practical applications to prepare students in the growing catering sector. In combination of all of the courses, students will experience a more in-depth hands-on training with a field placement in the final semesters where students will work in a hotel or travel agency setting.

For the services in the hospitality and tourism companies to thrive, business operations are required to build their foundations and maintain their functionalities. Centennial College’s Hospitality and Tourism Administration program teaches its learners of the knowledge and skills needed to operate hotels, catering businesses, travel agencies and other companies in the industry. Graduates can work in various positions, including Travel Coordinators, Marketing Specialists, Service Managers, and Event planners.

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 Tourism and Hospitality 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.

Hospitality and Tourism Administration Program Opens Various Doors

Did you know that under the umbrella of Hospitality and Tourism Administration is an array of areas that include: hotel and restaurant general management, human resources management, sales and marketing management, convention services coordination, tour coordination, food and beverage management, housekeeping management and hotel financial management? What’s more is that at Centennial College, you only have to attend one Hospitality and Tourism Administration program to be eligible to apply for all these areas upon graduation.

The offering at Centennial College takes three years to complete and results in an Ontario College Advanced Diploma, which shows employers a high standard of learning. Additionally, students who study at the Tourism Administration program have the option of continuing their education with articulated programs through selected universities, institutes and professional associations. These educational partnerships allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study. The hospitality administration’s partners are: Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Ryerson University, Southern New Hampshire University (U.S.A.), University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick and more.

Priding itself on offering students a balance of theory and practical application, Tourism and Hospitality Administration boasts both classes as well as a 15-week field placement. Considered a standout feature of this program, the work experience sees students working in approved jobs within the Hospitality and Tourism Administration Industry. Among the benefits of the placement are: the opportunity for students to relate classroom theory to the practical world, while adding another career educational dimension career preparation; better understanding the dynamics of the industry; increasing knowledge of industry practices and providing a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

Aside from this all-important practical experience, students attend Hospitality and Tourism courses at the school’s Progress Campus location.

As the base for all School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture programs, it includes a full service hospitality management centre, an onsite conference centre and state-of-the-art computer labs. These facilities allow students to encounter real life experiences, deal with customers and see what it takes to run facilities similar to the ones in the industry.

Additionally Hospitality and Tourism courses range from business practices in marketing and human resources, to finance and industry operations — as applied to the entire hospitality and tourism field. Among specific courses are: Dimensions of Tourism, Beverage Knowledge and Bartending, Sanitation, Safety and Hygiene; World Geography for Tourism, Introduction to Hospitality Accounting, Wholesale Tour Operations, Meeting and Convention Management, Responsible Tourism and much more.

Applicants to this Hospitality and Tourism Administration undertaking 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.

Tourism Administration Prepares You For a Variety of Careers

“It’s a mixture of the hospitality side, where you get to learn about how the hotel operates from scratch, … and after that you get to learn how the tourism industry operates,” says Lexina, a graduate of the hospitality administration (officially known as Hospitality and Tourism Administration) at Centennial College. “Some of the program is labs and some of it is classes. After you finally finish your program, you go into co-op as well — depending on whether you choose it or not. I learned how to put together an event because for a final project for one of my classes, we had put together an event for graduation. I learned how to work with other people and time management was a factor as well.”

While Lexina does a great job of offering her perspective on the three-year Hospitality and Tourism Administration program, let’s take a closer look. First and foremost, to apply students must have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also possess compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Designed for those planning to build their futures in the tourism industry, this Hospitality Administration program truly reflects Canada’s second largest employment sector, which provides a diverse range of career opportunities. Courses cover a full range of business practices in marketing, human resources, finance and industry operations — as applied to the entire hospitality and tourism field. Students also gain valuable work experience through an individualized industry internship that is meant to provide a practical foundation for their career.

Specific courses within the Tourism Administration undertaking include: Kitchen and Dining Room Practices (learners experience a combination of food preparation and service theory reinforced by the actual practice of the concepts learned); Human Resources For Hospitality and Tourism Administrators (designed to introduce students to a variety of tasks and functions of a human resources department employee, administrator and manager in the current hospitality and tourism business environments); Hospitality and Tourism Marketing (students define marketing, distinguish between product and services marketing and demonstrate an understanding of consumer behaviour, market segmentation, the marketing mix and their application to the marketing plan); and more.

In addition to their courses, students have access to many on-campus resources that enhance learning, including a full-service hospitality management centre, on-site conference centre and state-of-the-art computer labs.

Once they successfully complete their Ontario College Advanced Diploma from Centennial College, students have two options. First, qualified graduates may be eligible to participate in an articulated program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. These partnerships allow graduates to apply academic credit towards further study. The hospitality administration’s partners are: Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Ryerson University, Southern New Hampshire University (U.S.A.), University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick and more. The second option is for graduates to enter the field and find jobs in hotel and restaurant general management, human resources management, sales and marketing management, convention services coordination and tour coordination. The tourism industry boasts revenue in excess of $61.4-billion from 60,000 different companies that employ over 1.66-million Canadians coast-to-coast.

Hospitality Administration Continues to Expand and Seek Trained Professionals

Did you know the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council forecasts that between 2006 and 2015, 290,690 new jobs within the tourism industry will have been created? In addition, revenues from this sector are in excess of $61.4 billion from 60,000 different companies that employ more than 1.66 million Canadians. As a result, those with hospitality administration and tourism administration training are in high demand. These professionals fill positions such as hotel and restaurant general management, human resources management, sales and marketing management, convention services coordination and tour coordination. Depending on their area of interest, students of Centennial College’s Hospitality and Tourism Administration can obtain these positions after three years of training and an Ontario College Advanced Diploma.

“At Centennial College, 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,” says Brittany Skene who graduated in June 2008. Meanwhile, Mary Sardella, Director of Human Resources for the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, and 1988 Centennial College Hospitality graduate says of the program, “Centennial’s applied program prepares students for the real working world. We look forward to continue fostering our relationship with the hospitality school and the students.”

Courses in the Hospitality Administration program cover a full range of business practices in marketing, human resources, finance and industry operations — as applied to the entire hospitality and tourism field. Specific courses within the program include: Hospitality and Tourism Marketing (students define marketing, distinguish between product and services marketing and demonstrate an understanding of consumer behaviour, market segmentation, the marketing mix and their application to the marketing plan); Ontario Cultural & Heritage Tourism Product (course examines the role of heritage and culture in the creation of Ontario as a tourism destination by investigating how the geographic makeup of the province influenced its historical development, the consequence of which has contributed to engaging tourism experiences); and many others. To supplement in-class learning, the College houses a full service hospitality management centre, an onsite conference centre and state-of-the-art computer labs.

In addition, Tourism Administration students participate in an internship, which provides meaningful work experience in approved jobs within the hospitality and tourism industry, enabling students to relate classroom theory to the practical world, while adding another career educational dimension to their career preparation. Field placement enables students to better understand the dynamics of the industry, increase their knowledge of industry practices and provides a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

Centennial’s three-year tourism administration program admits students at three points throughout the year. To apply, students must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also possess compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Tourism Administration Offers A Combination of Practical Experience and Hands-on Training

If you’ve ever considered a job working in: hotel and restaurant general management, human resources management, sales and marketing management, convention services coordination and tour coordination, then the field of Hospitality Administration and Tourism Administration may be for you. Each of these positions entails a variety of tasks. Here, we take a look at two of these career paths you can take.

For example, as a hotel manager you would play a very active role onsite. This role would include leading hotel personnel and mangers of various departments as well as acting as a liaison between hotel guests and staff. In some cases, managers also handle greeting customers, especially in the case of important figures and frequent guests. If there are special events, conferences or business meetings being held at the hotel, it’s usually the work of the manager to ensure that things run smoothly and that supplies and security are in place. Lastly, hotel managers may oversee the daily fiscal workings of the facility. Another job example in the tourism admin field is that of a human resources manager. This person is in charge of any of the following: recruiting and staffing, employee orientation, development, and training; organizational and space planning, performance management and improvement systems; compensation and benefits administration; employee services and counseling; and more.

With hospitality revenues in excess of $61.4-billion from 60,000 different companies that employ more than 1.66-million Canadians and the industry being pegged as the country’s second largest employment sector with 290,690 new jobs being created between 2006 and 2015, now is a great time to enter the tourism administration field.

At Centennial College, students can study tourism administration and graduate with an Ontario College Advanced Diploma in just three years. Courses cover a full range of business practices in marketing, human resources, finance and industry operations — as applied to the entire hospitality and tourism field. The training ends with a 15-week industry internship that occurs in the final semester, which enables students to relate classroom theory to the practical world, while adding another career educational dimension to their career preparation. Field placement enables the student to better understand the dynamics of the industry, increase their knowledge of industry practices and provides a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

However, before they can be sent into the field, students have access to many on-campus resources that enhance learning, including a full-service hospitality management centre, on-site conference centre and state-of-the-art computer labs. Specific courses in which they participate include: Geography and Tourism, Kitchen & Dining Room Practices, Introduction to Hospitality Accounting, Report Writing for Hospitality, Purchasing for the Service Industry and many others.

In order to apply to this Hospitality and Tourism Administration program, students must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also possess compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Centennial College: Hospitality Tourism Admin Program