Hospitality Management

Tourism Development and Management
Through the B.S. in Tourism Development and Management (TDM), students acquire the planning and management skills related to the growth and development of tourism throughout the world. The curriculum prepares students for employment across a wide variety of occupations in the rapidly expanding travel and tourism industry, while taking full advantage of its strong connections with the professional tourism community in Phoenix. The concentration in Resort and Accommodation Leadership will attract students and professionals who have interests in learning how to meet expectations of hotel and resort guests; the interrelated functions within departments of the lodging and food and beverage industries; ecological, social and economic sustainability practices in the industry; management and leadership specifically for the accommodations sector; and career opportunities. A concentration in Sustainable Tourism will allow students to hone their understanding of the key concepts of sustainability and how they can be applied to tourism destinations and development.

The required internship component of all TDM programs allows students to gain practical experiences leading to professional positions in various travel, tourism and related fields. Exposure to the businesses of heritage tourism, sustainable tourism, resort and accommodations leadership, and meeting and convention planning prepare students for successful careers in the travel and tourism industry. The area of sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly important with many tourism businesses such as hotels, airlines, convention and visitor bureaus, and large attractions hiring sustainability coordinators. Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program.