Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Major

students work at hotel registration desk

Launch your career in one of the world's fastest-growing industries with Salve Regina University'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 Salve 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.

student presenting at We Mean Business Day

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.

Students and Dr. Missy Varao attend IACBE conference

Shaping the Future of Global Hospitality

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:

  • Box office operations
  • Communications and public relations  
  • Concert/theater/sport/fashion event production
  • Customer experience management
  • Destination management
  • Event venue and convention center operations
  • Hospitality  
  • Hotel/airline/concert revenue management
  • Hotel/restaurant/private club management
  • Human resources  
  • Operations management  
  • Property and facility management  
  • Sales and marketing  
  • Tourism operations
  • Trade show operations
  • Wedding planning

Building a Foundation

In the course MGT150: Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism, students explore the fundamental concepts, issues and theories that shape the industry. Through a broad range of topics - from organizational development to impacts on cultures and economies - students are introduced to key segments of the sector, including lodging, food and beverage, event planning, attraction management, private club management, destination management and more.

Salve hospitality and tourism students tour TD Garden

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.

students' capstone presentation on OceanCliff

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.

See course requirements.

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.
 

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