Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Major
Launch your career in one of the world's fastest-growing industries with ºÚÁÏÍø's tourism, hospitality and event management program. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, an international destination for tourism and cultural events, you'll combine business expertise with hands-on experience in global hospitality, hotel and restaurant management, destination marketing and management, and event production.
Experiential learning is not a tagline; it is the core of a ºÚÁÏÍø education.
Maya Parady '25
Hospitality is one of the world's oldest and fastest-growing industries. The ability to assist consumers, meet their needs or simply make them feel at home is an important component of nearly every business today – meaning even companies from outside the tourism industry are hiring hospitality associates to form beneficial relationships with clients.
With options for study abroad, internships and real-world projects built into the program, you'll graduate ready to lead and innovate in the global hospitality and tourism economy. By blending academic rigor, hands-on learning and international perspective, our program equips students with the skills needed to excel in hotel, resort and restaurant management, tourism development, event planning and customer experience management across the globe.
We Mean Business Day
We Mean Business Day is a dynamic, full-day professional development and networking conference designed to immerse business students in a real-world, industry-focused experience. Modeled after a professional conference, the event prepares students for life beyond the classroom by offering direct insights from top industry leaders, meaningful connections with successful alumni and employers, and access to exciting career opportunities.
Dylan Larsen '26, student event planner, presents opening remarks for We Mean Business Day 2026.
The Local Advantage
Students have unparalleled opportunities for real-world experience in Newport's thriving hospitality industry. A key component accompanying coursework, internships allow students to work with partners across the local and regional landscape as they put into practice the skills learned in the classroom.
Eta Sigma Delta
The Eta Sigma Delta (ESD) International Honor Society recognizes outstanding academic achievement among hospitality and tourism students and provides valuable professional, organizational and educational benefits. Membership in ESD not only acknowledges academic excellence but also reinforces ºÚÁÏÍø’s commitment to developing future hospitality and tourism professionals.
Shaping the Future of Global Hospitality
Cassandra Earle '14 (MBA)
Communications director, Discover Newport
"Newport's vibrant hospitality and tourism community sparked my passion and a served as a gateway to discover and develop across nearly every facet of the industry - from events and restaurants to hotels and tourism management. Earning my MBA from ºÚÁÏÍø, coupled with my experience, opened doors to opportunities on a national scale. Whether close to campus or across the globe, Newport's strong industry foundation and genuine passion for hospitality, create meaningful pathways for students to explore, learn and grow."
Julia Govoni '24, '25 (MBA)
Events coordinator, New York Yacht Club - Harbour Court
"My time at ºÚÁÏÍø prepared me for so much more than just my career. I'm beyond grateful for the people who helped shape me into the person I am today. ºÚÁÏÍø taught me the value of community, connection and the kind of relationships that continue to impact my life long after graduation. The support I found within the business department helped me grow in every aspect of my life. It's been especially meaningful to now work at the New York Yacht Club alongside my current manager, who is also a ºÚÁÏÍø graduate. That full-circle connection is such a special reminder of how lasting and impactful the ºÚÁÏÍø community truly is."
Kevin Kelly '21, '22 (MBA)
Account executive, vivenu
"My experience in the hospitality, tourism and event management program at ºÚÁÏÍø provided a strong foundation in planning and executing live events, with an emphasis on the full guest experience and operational detail. That hands-on, real-world approach translated directly into my career in live entertainment and hospitality. Today, in my role at vivenu, I partner with event organizers to optimize ticketing strategies and improve performance, leveraging the foundation I developed at ºÚÁÏÍø."
Maya Parady '25
Partnership development manager, Movement Marketing
"Experiential learning is not a tagline; it is the core of a ºÚÁÏÍø education. From my very first marketing class, I was working with local businesses and applying textbook learning to tangible applications. By the time I was a senior, I had the connections, support, knowledge and confidence to plan the University's inaugural We Mean Business Day. With the support of faculty, amazing fellow student planners and a community that says 'how high' when we asked them to jump, We Mean Business Day was an overwhelming success that resulted in four full-time job offers. The skillset I nourished at ºÚÁÏÍø is something I use every day in my current role in the travel and tourism industry. It's an industry that revolves around connection, passion and community, all things that ºÚÁÏÍø provided, which made the post-graduation transition as smooth as it could be."
Gianni Rizzuto '25
Project coordinator, custom exhibits, T3 Expo
"My experience at ºÚÁÏÍø provided a strong foundation in both the operational and client-facing aspects of the events industry. The hands-on coursework and collaborative environment prepared me to manage complex projects and adapt quickly in a fast-paced setting. Those skills have been instrumental in my role at T3 Expo."
Local and Regional Relevance
29.4M
Rhode Island welcomed a record number of visitors in 2024.
Tourism Economics, 2025
88,500
Tourism supports thousands of jobs in the Ocean State.
Tourism Economics, 2025
$6B
Direct spending by visitors to Rhode Island in 2024.
Tourism Economics, 2025
Career Paths in Hospitality and Tourism Management
The hospitality and tourism segments incorporate numerous fields of study, including communications, cultural and historic preservation, economics, environmental studies, global studies, history, marketing, political science and more.
Possible career paths include:
- Hotel and resort management
- Wedding planning
- Concert production
- Sporting venue and arena management
- Destination marketing
- Hospitality real estate development
- Box office operations
- Airline revenue management
- Multi-unit restaurant management
- Hotel sales and marketing
- Customer experience design
- Corporate brand management
- Event venue and convention center operations
- Private club management
- Hotel staffing and human resources
- Tourism operations
- Trade show design and management
Designing Exceptional Experiences
In the capstone course Service Quality and Customer Experience, students bring together everything they’ve learned to understand what truly drives customer loyalty and organizational success. They analyze performance, identify gaps and develop solutions that enhance service quality across hospitality, tourism and event settings, preparing them for leadership roles in customer experience, operations and service-driven industries.
Creating Unforgettable Events
In Event Planning and Operations, students step behind the scenes to explore how events come to life, from initial concept through execution and evaluation. Through hands-on projects, site visits and real-world planning exercises, students engage with everything from budgeting and design to logistics, vendor coordination and event marketing. Covering events such as weddings, festivals, corporate functions and sporting events, the course prepares students for careers in event production, sport and entertainment management, and hospitality leadership.
Degree Options
Bachelor of Science in tourism, hospitality and event management
The tourism, hospitality and event management major prepares students to thrive as leaders in one of the world's most dynamic global industries. Rooted in the strength of the Jean and David W. Wallace Department of Business and Economics, the program combines rigorous business foundations with specialized courses in hospitality, tourism and event management. Students develop expertise in areas such as global destination management, international tourism economics, food service operations, lodging operations, event production and design and service quality.
Program coursework includes:
- Global Destination Management
- Professional Hospitality Practicum
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Tourism Economics
- Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism
- Hotel and Resort Management
- Event Planning and Facility Management
- Hospitality Finance and Revenue Management
- Advanced Event Production and Design
Minor in tourism, hospitality and event management
Designed to complement any major, the minor in hospitality and tourism management explores how leisure is facilitated through hospitality services and tourism experiences, as well as its impact on both local and global economies and ecosystems.
Meet Our Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Faculty
Our faculty teach from experience, sharing a wealth of insights gained from successful careers in tourism, hospitality and event management. With energy and enthusiasm, they bring diverse experiences and talents to the program, helping students develop a thorough understanding of the industry.
