A special problem or independent study in the hospitality field not available in regular course offerings. Conducted under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member.

A special problem or independent study in the hospitality field not available in regular course offerings. Conducted under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member.

This course introduces the students to the process of hospitality real estate development in four steps. First, it explores the location and market analysis for hospitality real estate development including the analysis of Smith Travel Research (STR) reports and hospitality market demand drivers. Second, it explores impact analysis in hospitality real estate development including how changes in demand and supply affect future performance. Third, it covers the process of conducting economic analysis including how analysis of macroeconomic data is important for hospitality real estate development. Fourth, it introduces the fundamentals of how to conduct a sound feasibility study for hospitality real estate development. By the end of the course students are expected to complete a globally recognized professional hospitality industry certification from Costar and Smith Travel Research (STR), Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Analytics (CAHTA).

This course explores the transformative role of Generative AI in business, with a particular focus on hospitality, tourism, and service industries. The course examines three core areas of AI integration in business: AI-driven customer engagement, AI-enhanced operational efficiency, and AI-informed strategic decision-making. First, the course explores how Generative AI enhances customer experiences through personalized recommendations, automated service interactions, and AI-generated marketing content. Second, it examines AI?s role in improving business operations, including inventory management, revenue optimization, and task automation. Third, it evaluates the strategic implications of AI adoption, covering ethical considerations, data-driven decision-making, and competitive advantages in a digital economy. Through hands-on applications, case studies, and critical discussions, students will develop AI literacy, gain practical experience in prompt engineering, and learn to critically assess AI-generated outputs. This course prepares students for the evolving demands of AI-driven business environments by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to responsibly implement Generative AI for innovation, efficiency, and business success.

This course explores wellness and wellbeing in business, particularly hospitality and service industries. The course examines three pillars of wellness and wellbeing in business: wellness and wellbeing in the customer experience, wellness and wellbeing initiatives for employees, and wellness and wellbeing business practices and strategies. First, the course examines the customer perspective including wellbeing practices in business and how this affects customer wellbeing and the customer experience. Second, it examines employee wellbeing in how firms take care of their human assets. Third, it examines business wellbeing strategies and how they lead to organizational success, including improved brand reputation, customer retention, and firm financial performance. Through the course, students will critically assess business firm?s human wellbeing as the foundation for promoting a service-driven mindset that enhances the customer experience and strengthens hospitality and service industries. This course will prepare students future workplace demands in business by understanding how wellbeing drives positive customer experiences, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, employee outcomes, the hospitality economy, firm performance and profitability, and the importance of managing the business of people.

This course examines the strategic use of technology in modern hospitality and tourism organizations including the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and social media as a marketing and management tool. The application and use of both business intelligence and hospitality business analytics is also explored.

Customer experience management is the process of strategically managing a customer?s entire experience with a product, service, and company. Throughout the course, students will investigate the importance of establishing the unique brand experience by examining the experience for different brands, establishing service benchmarks, and determining the key principles of quality and satisfaction. Students will evaluate how to design the brand experience including analyzing the physical and social servicescape and evaluating the critical touchpoints throughout the customer experience journey. Lastly, the course examines the effects of customer psychology, emotions, social styles, and body language and how these affect customer behavior such as complaints, service recovery, loyalty, return intention, and word-of-mouth.

Customer experience management is the process of strategically managing a customer?s entire experience with a product, service, and company. Throughout the course, students will investigate the importance of establishing the unique brand experience by examining the experience for different brands, establishing service benchmarks, and determining the key principles of quality and satisfaction. Students will evaluate how to design the brand experience including analyzing the physical and social servicescape and evaluating the critical touchpoints throughout the customer experience journey. Lastly, the course examines the effects of customer psychology, emotions, social styles, and body language and how these affect customer behavior such as complaints, service recovery, loyalty, return intention, and word-of-mouth.

Analysis of factors affecting food production and service in the food service industry emphasizing adherence to food quality and service. Evaluation of food products and commercial equipment. Planning and coordinating food production activities.