Grade 15 - Hospitality and Tourism

Food and Beverage Management (Credit: 0.50)

This introductory Food & Beverage Management course is designed as an overview to prepare students for F & B core courses and to introduce them to specialty areas. Students will learn the basics of food service management and operations with an emphasis on the fundamental values of hospitality and responsible management. We will examine where the industry began, current best practices, and future trends. Students will gain knowledge of and understand how the correct blend of hard skills (food and beverage management principles) and soft skills (providing exceptional guest service) can maximize profits in the hospitality industry. Additional topics will include menu planning and pricing, types of service styles, food and beverage marketing, facility design and layout, financial controls, sanitation, safety, ethics, and legal concerns. We will also identify opportunities and career paths for those interested in the food & beverage industry.

Food Safety and Sanitation (Credit: 0.50)

This comprehensive course will cover the principles and practices of food safety and sanitation that are essential in the hospitality industry for the protection and well-being of staff, guests and customers. The course will provide a systems approach to sanitation risk management and the prevention of food contamination by emphasizing the key components of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety system. After successful completion of this course, students will be prepared to meet the requirements of state and national certification exams.

Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Systems (Credit: 0.50)

Travel and tourism is now the largest industry in the world: In the United States alone, over 7.5 million people work in this industry, and in 2010, 60 million international visitors came to the United States, spending $134 billion. All of the sectors of the travel and tourism industry work together to serve this growing market of visitors, who have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. This course establishes a foundation for the concept of tourism, travel, and hospitality as a system. Students will learn about the various segments of the travel and tourism industry and how they are interrelated and integral to international and domestic travel and tourism. This discussion will include travel agencies, tour companies, the airlines and other transportation sectors, lodging facilities, cruise lines, and marketing companies.

Lodging Operations Management (Credit: 0.50)

This course introduces students to hotel management. Students taking this course briefly review the history of the lodging industry, and place contemporary hotels in a larger context of the hospitality industry. They then study hotels from several different angles: vision and mission, organizational structures, and the structure and functions of different divisions within the hotel. The course emphasizes the rooms divisions, and addresses how it relates to food and beverage, sales and marketing, hospitality, and security divisions. In the process, students get a chance to research and/or observe a number of hotels and hotel divisions in action. As a result, this course is valuable to students planning a career in hotel management, especially those interested in front office operations. It is also useful to any student interested in the hospitality industry or business in general.

Marketing and Sales for Tourism and Hospitality (Credit: 0.50)

This course is designed as an introduction to the study of tourism and hospitality marketing and sales. Students will be introduced to marketing theory and application of the basic principles of marketing as applied in hospitality and tourism. The relationship between marketing and other functions such as advertising, sales techniques, and public relations in order to maximize profits in a hospitality organization is addressed. Students will have an opportunity to explore this multi-faceted world, identifying multiple career paths and opportunities.

Planning Meetings and Special Events (Credit: 0.50)

Welcome to Planning Meetings and Special Events. Being a meetings and special events planner is an important job that's both demanding and rewarding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this profession will grow by 43.7 percent between 2010 and 2020. It's not all fun and parties, though. In 2012, CareerCast ranked being an event planner as the sixth most stressful job, with soldiers and firefighters holding the top two positions. That's because a meeting coordinator is responsible for every detail of an event. Planners have to know how to communicate, be empathetic, and think of their clients. It's crucial to remember that in some instances the event will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, so it's important to get it right. Being a meetings and events planner can be an interesting career, one that you can be sure won't ever be boring.

Sustainable Service Management for Hospitality and Tourism (Credit: 0.50)

This comprehensive course will cover the principles and practices of sustainable service management. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable hospitality management. The course will provide a sustainable approach to service management, incorporating the role of the customer, employee, leaders, and the environment. After successful completion of this course, students will understand and be able to explain the fundamentals of sustainability in the hospitality industry.

Transportation and Tours for the Traveler (Credit: 0.50)

Welcome to Transportation and Tours for the Traveler! This course looks at transportation and package tours. During this course, you will learn about the package tour industry today, the travel industry professionals, and the package tour customers. You will find out who tour operators have to work with to create travel products and what kinds of decisions they have to make in terms of meal, lodging, attractions, and, of course, transportation. You will read about how a tour operator plans and markets a tour and discover what happens before the tour, during the tour, and after the tour. Finally, you will learn about how technology, events like 9/11 and the global recession, and increased environmental awareness are affecting the travel industry today. By focusing on all of the different components that go into creating a tour, you will be able to get a sense of what working for a tour operator really entails as well as what other careers are available in the tour industry. Having this perspective will help you better understand the process you undergo as you plan your own vacations and give you the background to feel comfortable entering the tour industry.