Choosing the right university and educational program is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. As you search for the right match, consider a career in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management. UW-Stout houses one of the largest hotel, restaurant and tourism management programs in the world. Graduates furnish the managerial talent needed by resorts, hotels, restaurants, private clubs, government tourism agencies and convention bureaus.
Interested?
The goal of the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program is to promote your academic and career success, self growth and leadership development. Faculty and staff are highly skilled, caring individuals. They are committed to providing quality education, to giving personal attention to students, and to helping students develop personal and professional skills that make a difference in this changing world.
Rewarding Careers
This professional area is one of the most exciting fields available to people in the 21st century. Students will be prepared to assume leadership positions in:
- Club Management
- Financial Management
- Health Care
- Hotel Management
- Casino Management
- Human Resource Management
- Convention and Meeting Planning
- Property Management
- Restaurant Management
- Sales and Marketing Management
- Tourism Management
Learning Experiences
Courses in the program are in two areas: general education and professional studies. Instructional methods include both classroom and laboratory experiences. Classroom experiences provide you with a theoretical foundation. Laboratory experiences allow you to apply what you have learned.
Enjoying Student Life
The campus learning environment includes a wide variety of activities. Intramural sports, social clubs, sororities and fraternities, honor societies and professional organizations are all included. Five student professional organizations related to the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program are:
- American Hospitality Professionals
- Society for Hospitality Industry Professionals
- Club Managers of America
- Resort and Property Management Association
- Restaurant/Tavern Management Association
Studying and Traveling Abroad
Programs have been developed with other countries. Many international programs allow students to gain valuable work experiences in addition to classroom instruction. You may also have time to immerse yourself in the culture by living with a host family and traveling throughout the area. UW-Stout has hospitality study abroad programs in Spain, Australia, and the Netherlands. See the International Education website for more information.
Experiencing the Professional World
The Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program has developed more than 100 agreements with different businesses to provide internships, co-ops and other job-related experiences for UW-Stout students. Participating companies include leading hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and food industries. Internships are also available with tourism bureaus, chambers of commerce, and convention and meeting planning bureaus.
Getting Ready
It is never too early to prepare for a career within the hospitality and tourism industry. Begin by developing professional experiences within the industry. You can become involved by:
- Joining the local restaurant or hotel association.
- Attending professional shows and conferences.
- Interviewing industry professionals.
- Spending a day with an industry professional.
- Finding a summer job in the hospitality industry.
Entry Positions
The Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program enjoys an excellent regional and national reputation, resulting in a 99 percent employment rate for our 2004-05 graduates.
The number and variety of companies recruiting graduates continues to increase. Most corporations or companies place graduates in a management position. The amount of training that a new manager will receive is dependent on the complexity of the organization and on the skills of the individual. Other graduates may elect to pursue a sales career or become an entrepreneur. Your success is based on your ability.
The average starting salary of the 2004-05 graduate was $31,000 with some graduates reporting starting salaries as high as $40,000. As you advance within a hospitality and tourism company, your salary will increase depending on the level of responsibility. Many of our graduates have become general and executive directors of large corporations and are managing millions of dollars.