BYU–Hawaii’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program was recently ranked among the top tourism degrees in the nation by TheBestSchools.org. The list includes both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, with factors such as faculty, reputation, ranking, quality of the program, awards, and courses offered as ranking criteria.
“Tourism is the largest industry in the Pacific and in the Pacific Rim area where most of our students are from. Even though, looking at a map, BYU–Hawaii is in a very remote area, Hawaii is the premier tourism destination in the Pacific, and the Polynesian Cultural Center is the most-visited and most-successful commercial tourism attraction in Hawaii,” said Jeff Caneen, chair of BYU–Hawaii’s Business Management Department. “BYU–Hawaii is actually located in an ideal spot to study tourism and to gain experience in serving and understanding tourists.”
Moana Ma’u, a recent graduate of the HTM program who now works at a hotel in Southern California, said, “The simulations for the Capstone class gave me knowledge of the software I now use on a daily basis. The professors share their passion of the industry with their students, which benefits the students.”
The careers available for Hospitality and Tourism students are not limited to only positions at hotels. The article noted, “A tourism and hospitality management degree program provides students the business skills and cultural education necessary to run travel agencies, organize cultural attractions, operate a food service business, plan meetings as well as large conventions and events, facilitate operations at hotels, theme parks, casinos and resorts, promote tourism, and arrange individual, group, or corporate trips and tours around the world.”
BYU–Hawaii was also recently highlighted by Forbes as one of The 100 Most Financially Fit Colleges, and is among the top 20 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings for 2013.