Hospitality Management

Guest Experience 

The guest experience is at the core of what makes hospitality unique. An unwavering commitment to providing our guests with exemplary hospitality experiences sets the tone for HPU’s Hospitality Management program. From gaining an understanding of the theory of hospitality to practicing it in internships, students leave prepared to exceed guests’ expectations.  

Focused Attention 

Small classes and unwavering attention are at the core of the Hospitality Management program. Faculty become mentors and provide day to day leadership and direction, helping students find their path through this ever-changing industry. 

Soft Skills Development 

At the core of every hospitality professional’s passion is a set of soft skills that set them apart: curiosity, customer care, passion, emotional intelligence. While the classwork provides the framework and theory, interaction with industry professionals, faculty, and other students helps hospitality majors build a tool box of soft skills that are imperative in the dynamic 21st century hospitality industry. 

Experiential Learning 

Students are immersed in the hospitality industry from their first day in class, meeting industry professionals, interviewing hospitality practitioners, and visiting hospitality outlets in the Triad and beyond. Between the club, HPU-sponsored travel, internships, and study abroad opportunities, students understand what it means to be a hospitality professional ,and the passion required for this exciting industry. 

Unlock Your Leadership Potential with Future Hospitality Leaders (FHL)! 

Are you ready to take your passion for hospitality to the next level? Join Future Hospitality Leaders (FHL), the ultimate student organization for aspiring hospitality professionals! While our club is geared towards Hospitality Management majors, we welcome all students who share our enthusiasm for this exciting industry. 

Discover the Keys to Success in Hospitality 

At FHL, we’re on a mission to help you unlock your full potential and become a leader in the world of hospitality. Through a range of activities and events, you’ll have the opportunity to: 

1. Tour Inspiring Venues

   • Step behind the scenes of some of the most impressive hospitality venues and see firsthand how they create unforgettable experiences for their guests. From luxurious hotels to cutting-edge event spaces, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s inner workings. 

2. Learn from Industry Experts

   • Hear from seasoned professionals who have made their mark in the hospitality world. Our guest speakers will share their insights, experiences, and advice, providing you with valuable knowledge to help you navigate your own career path. 

3. Build Your Professional Network

   • Connect with like-minded students, faculty, and industry professionals who share your passion for hospitality. FHL provides a supportive community where you can forge lasting relationships, collaborate on projects, and explore career opportunities. 

4. Expand Your Horizons

   • Discover the variety of career paths available in the hospitality industry, from hotel management and event planning to culinary arts and tourism. FHL will help you explore your interests, identify your strengths, and chart your course towards a fulfilling career. 

5. Develop Leadership Skills

   • Take on leadership roles within FHL and gain valuable experience in organizing events, managing teams, and making strategic decisions. These skills will serve you well throughout your career, setting you apart as a confident and capable leader. 

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of a vibrant community of future hospitality leaders. At FHL, we’re more than just a club – we’re a launchpad for your success in the hospitality industry.  

Just as the hospitality industry never closes, opportunities outside of the classroom are constantly available. Students have worked with faculty on research projects with High Point University’s SuRI (Summer Research Institute) for the last three summers. Projects have included understanding how cruise passengers feel about cruise lines using artificial intelligence during the planning process, guest perception of cultural competency and how it impacts their intention to book hospitality properties, and how to increase engagement during online conferences. Not only do students learn more about the academic research that faculty undertake, but they also explore graduate school options, and have the opportunity to present their work at conferences, most recently at the University of South Carolina and in Anaheim, CA. Many of these collaborations have continued into the academic year, providing a unique skill set for these students and continued faculty-student mentorship.

HSP-1300 Intro: Hospitality Management (4 Credits) – What is the size and scope of the hospitality industry? What career opportunities are available, and which of these align with my personal profile? This course presents a global panorama of the hospitality and tourism industry explored through the lens of a learner’s professional development profile and early career interests. Following the completion of a confidential online career profile exercise, the course explores industry segments including hotel and resorts, theme parks, cruise, health and wellness, clubs, food and beverage, recreation, and travel services. Combining industry knowledge with knowledge of self, learners begin a focus on matching their personal profile and professional interests with the development, management, and delivery of successful enterprises in the hospitality and tourism industries.

HSP 1400 is the study of the operational practices utilized in the management of hospitality properties. The objective of the course is for the student to become familiar with the current principles and management practices of hospitality properties. The focus will be specifically on the operations of the front desk in conjunction with other operating departments, such as housekeeping, reservations, bell desk/valet, and food & beverage outlets. Integration with the sales/marketing, food and beverage, accounting, engineering, and human resource departments of the property will be discussed.

Human Communication. This course presents fundamental communication theories as applied in various public speaking, interpersonal and small group communication contexts and provides both a theoretical foundation and a practical framework for future studies in the Communication area.

A study of the fundamental principles, practices, and critical issues of Human Resource Management (HRM) within hospitality environments. HRM is a fundamental element of the competitiveness, effectiveness, and sustainability of any organization, as it influences selection, placement, training, compensation, motivation, and performance appraisals of organizing members. HRM plays an essential role in attracting quality talent, influencing employee behaviors, and ensuring effective and efficient organizational performance. Major topics of the course include recruitment and selection, training and development, job analysis and design, and performance assessment. Also included are labor relations and government regulations specific to the hospitality industry, diversity, safety, ethics, and other relevant topics and research applicable to the field of human resources.

This course overviews how numbers and metrics used to conceive, design, monitor, and drive positive business results. Learner teams enter a competitive market using financial statements and accounting techniques to target business priorities, manage those priorities, and partner with ownership priorities, all in a real-to-life, real-time, online, hospitality business simulation. Teams learn how to prepare and deliver management presentations to financial institutions, owners, senior management, and colleagues.

An In-depth review of the hospitality industry from a global perspective, this course will introduce students to cultural intelligence and managing with a global mindset. The hospitality industry exists in a global space and leaders need to understand other cultures and how to lead within a diverse environment. Leaders must understand how to interact with guests from a variety of cultures, as well as manage a workforce that is increasingly diverse. Major topics include navigating cultural differences both at home and abroad, managing workforces, protocol, and etiquette. This course will also include an in-depth comparison of hospitality management theory and leadership differences in different cultures.

Providing a study of U.S. law regarding business, this course covers topics such as the American legal and regulatory system, contracts, torts, product liability, forms of business ownership, commercial dispute resolution, and duty-of-care, as well as laws and regulations for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, affirmative action, performance appraisal, and discrimination in the workplace. The course emphasizes a managerial approach to solving or avoiding potential problems such as wrongful termination, compensation rules, sexual harassment, and privacy in the workplace.

This course explores service management in a service-producing organization versus a goods-producing organization. Understanding the service experience and how to manage an organization and the staff within these organizations is integral to a hospitality manager’s development. Managers are evaluated not only on their ability to produce a financially successful product but also on the enthusiasm of their employees and the overall guest satisfaction. This course brings together marketing, technology, service providers, and strategic planning to develop a company’s competitive advantage.

In this capstone course, learners integrate previous course work into a real-to-life market and business simulation requiring creativity, market analytics, feasibility, strategic planning, and management execution. Following a market study, strategy formation, SWOT analysis, hotel product design, and financial feasibility study, teams will compete for business results using a hospitality revenue management simulation. Successful passing of this course includes confirmation of at least 800 hours of work in the hospitality field.

The internship requirements include completing a minimum of 40 clock hours at the job site for each academic credit earned, student reflection reports, student and site supervisor mid-term and final evaluations, and the creation and presentation of a final poster focused on the internship experience to faculty and students. Work completed during the internship should enhance a student’s portfolio and further employment opportunities.

This course provides an introduction to management by emphasizing the role of human behavior in the work place. Discussions will focus on the complex relationships between individuals, groups, and organizations, and will include the traditional topics of planning, strategy, operations, and control, as well as more contemporary topics, such as ethics, diversity, decision making, motivation, leadership, culture, and human resources. A primary goal will be to relate management theory to real life examples in order to make its relevance obvious even to students who may lack exposure to, or experience in, a real-life management context.

This course focuses on mastering relationship-based sales in the service industry, with a specific focus on hospitality outlets. Students will develop skills to build strong client connections, enhance customer experiences, and drive revenue. Special emphasis is placed on sales planning, preparation, presentations and client contact within hospitality and service outlets organizations. Topics included are uncovering and understanding customer wants, needs, and expectations, best practices for customer service before, during, and after the sale, and managing expectations, resolving issues, and ensuring satisfaction to foster long-term loyalty. Negotiation techniques are explored, and students will learn to persuade effectively, overcome objections, and close deals confidently while maintaining strong client relationships. Woven throughout is a focus on ethical selling practices including transparency, honesty, and respect for privacy. Through case studies, role-playing, and simulations, students will develop the skills needed to excel in relationship-based sales roles, build lasting client relationships, and deliver outstanding value in various service contexts while maximizing revenue.