School of Resort & Hospitality Management

Lead the way in the business of hospitality

Being in a tourism hub gives students a competitive edge in the industry

Our program prepares students for successful careers throughout the global marketplace in resorts, private clubs, restaurants, events, catering, association management, sports management, wine and spirits retailing and distribution, human resources and many more specialized areas of hospitality business operations. With a tourism-oriented climate and economy, Southwest Florida provides the perfect backdrop to gain perspective and experience in the real world as an undergraduate.

Our curriculum focuses on the skills needed to manage the operations of multimillion-dollar resort and private club properties, while internship and field experiences provide an important bridge between the classroom setting and a career in the industry. Take advantage of our strong relationships with over 300 of the area's finest resorts, hotels, private clubs, events, spas, food and beverage businesses and other industry-related contacts.

100%

Professors with hospitality industry experience

37,000

Square-foot, first-of-its-kind facility

Specialty degree concentrations

Average student class size

100%

Student internship placement rate

Hospitality Industry Repository

Resources regarding how best to recover from the astounding effects of COVID-19. We hope it will help the industry that supports us, our students and our alumni. Provided by our friends at Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

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One degree, many paths

Our Resort & Hospitality Management (BS) degree program offers specialized concentrations:

RHM ladies

The School of Resort & Hospitality Management was the first hospitality program in the State University System of Florida accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA). Housed in Sugden Hall, the school boasts unique learning environments including a fully operational food production and restaurant lab, a wine and food tasting lab, ballroom event management lab, an audio/visual/internet technology, and a functioning prototype spa with a hydrotherapy room managed by our students.

Mission Statement
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The mission of the Resort and Hospitality Management program is to provide students with core competencies and experiential learning opportunities in preparation for successful management careers and leadership roles in the resort and hospitality industry.
Learning Outcomes
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Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Illustrate proficiencies and skills relevant to the operational areas of Resort and Hospitality Management.
Resort and hospitality administration content/discipline knowledge and skills are primarily assessed at the program level through written papers and exams in courses in the major, including HFT 3670, HFT 4343, and HFT 4464.

Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Apply effective communication skills.
Communication skills are assessed at the program level through semester project papers and oral presentations in courses such as HFT 3573, HFT 4295, and HFT 4343.

Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Evaluate information and make decisions using critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
2. Apply ethical reasoning and professional judgment.
Critical thinking skills are assessed at the program level through research papers, exams, and case study projects completed in courses in the major, including HFT 3404, HFT 3573, and HFT 3670.

Select a tab below to view concentration specific learning outcomes:
Graduates that complete the "Event Management" track within the Resort and Hospitality Management degree program will be able to:

Evaluate different options to effectively plan and produce an event. (PLO1)

Create and utilize standard event planning tools and forms (BEOs, Budgets, Showflows, Timelines, etc.). (PLO1, 2 & 3)

Plan and produce an event. (PLO 1, 3 & 4)
Graduates that complete the "Private Club & Restaurant Management" track within the Resort and Hospitality Management degree program will be able to:

Explain the common business models utilized within commercial and non-commercial food and beverage operations, as well as within the club industry, to ensure the ongoing financial success of the respective organization. (PLO1)

Evaluate a food, beverage or club operation and identify opportunities to enhance the guest or member experience. (PLO1 & 3)

Audit a food, beverage or club operation to assess the efficiency and sustainability of the operation. (PLO2 & 3)

Recommend strategies to market a food, beverage or club operation to enhance guest/member engagement and/or to drive revenue. (PLO3 & 4)
Graduates that complete the "Spa Management" track within the Resort and Hospitality Management degree program will be able to:

Apply knowledge of how to manage a spa operation, including human resource, retail, facility, and financial management. (PLO1)

Analyze various elements of a spa experience that lead to guest satisfaction. (PLO2, 3 & 4)

Compare and contrast the extensive variety of spa menu offerings. (PLO1 & 3)

Apply principles and applications of nutrition and metabolism. (PLO1)
Our Leadership
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Internships
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Facilities
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Visit Us
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Involvement beyond the classroom

Explore student and professional organizations for Resort & Hospitality Management students.

Club Managers Association of America (CMAA)

Student organization that offers a source of education, networking, and professional development to students interested in the club industry.

Hospitality Management Association (HMA)

Educate in order to aid in the recruitment, retention, support, and advancement of students in the hospitality industry.

National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)

The first non-profit national organization for caterers, event planners and event professionals that provides education, certification and a network of resources for members in all segments of the hospitality industry.

National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH)

The largest student-run hospitality organization in the nation and has become the premier professional organization for the development of minority talent and leadership in the world.

Wandering Eagles

A travel club dedicated to planning trips to enrich the learning experience of FGCU students!

The International Business Association (IBA)

Aims to promote cultural exchange throughout the FGCU campus in a professional academic setting.

Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE)

National business organization aimed to build the professional skills in students.

View all the student and professional organizations at the Lutgert College of Business.

"The RHM program truly has a remarkable staff that will mentor their students to be the best they can be. I have so much respect and gratitude for this remarkable program and where it has helped me get today."

-Kyle Weiss

'10, Resort & Hospitality Mgmt.

"FGCU takes the cake when it comes to the future of young professionals seeking a career in the hospitality industry."

-Danielle Defau

'12, Resort & Hospitality Mgmt.

"The staff is dedicated to finding work opportunities for students, both during college years and after graduation. They use their resources and large professional network to connect us with the best opportunities available."

-Melissa Cortes

'15, Resort & Hospitality Mgmt.

Resort and Hospitality Management is not just a major, but rather a family connected on a global scale. If it weren't for the support and love of those that have embarked on the journey into a hospitality career, my successes would be more of a dream than an actual reality."

-Chauntel Kiara Brown

'13, Resort & Hospitality Mgmt.

The internship was the most impactful and helpful resource in starting my career.”

Rachel Farina

’11, Resort & Hospitality Management

Rachel Farina

MEET Rachel

The RHM staff and directors are always searching for information from those in the day-to-day business of hospitality so that they can pass on relevant information that will benefit the students. ”

Dale Moeller

‘08, Resort & Hospitality Management

Dale Moeller

MEET Dale

We have so many classes that are extremely educational in a fun way.”

Vanessa Gil

’18, Resort & Hospitality Management

Vanessa Gil

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