FAU Hospitality and Tourism Management Program Offers Lifeline to Workers Struggling During Coronavirus Pandemic
BY PAUL OWERS | 3/26/2020
BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 26, 2020) – Florida Atlantic University's nationally ranked Hospitality and Tourism Management program, within FAU’s College of Business, is offering a free certificate to industry workers and professionals who may be affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Through a series of five online sessions in April, participants can learn about the core components required for success in the industry. The sessions cover hospitality law, career competencies, marketing and revenue management, finance fundamentals and service excellence.
“Hospitality will always rebound, but this is the first global crisis where every hospitality segment was affected at the same time,” said Peter Ricci, Ed.D., director of FAU’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program.
FAU’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program, ranked by The Best Schools as one of the top 30 hospitality programs in the country, has offered the certificate for more than 10 years at a cost of $900 per participant, but FAU is waiving all fees to help workers weather this unprecedented period.
Hospitality is the largest private employer in Florida with more than 1.1 million people, but estimates show that roughly half of those workers have been laid off or had hours reduced since the pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of American life. During the down time, workers may question their career choice, said Ricci.
“This is a tool to keep people positively engaged while they are not at work so they can be better prepared to hit the ground running when things do ramp back up,” he said, adding that the sessions highlight key areas covered by hospitality and tourism students who pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration from FAU.
The certificate can benefit hourly associates, supervisors and executives who work in hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, casinos or for any service-oriented business.
Sessions will begin on April 9, though the coursework will be recorded for viewing at any time. Attendance and progress will be measured by short quizzes after each session. FAU’s College of Business and its Executive Education programs recently were ranked No. 1 in Florida by Financial Times. To register for the certificate, click here.
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About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit fau.edu.