Saunders College of Business Expands Hospitality Minors

Hospitality, business and technology deliver unique research and career opportunities at Saunders College of Business. Through an active industry advisory board dedicated to hospitality, our international hospitality and service innovation (IHSI) department delivers on employer needs through a retooled suite of innovative minors. These include real estate in hospitality, beverage management, sports, events, and entertainment management, and hospitality management.

Real Estate in Hospitality

The new real estate in hospitality minor is targeted towards developing commercial real estate projects, with an emphasis on hotels and mixed-use hospitality facilities. The minor helps students analyze and monitor the financial performance of a hospitality real estate portfolio through the coursework in asset management. The curriculum includes feasibility analysis, site selection, project management, select branding strategies, and identifying financing for new projects. This prepares students for careers in hospitality asset management, real estate development, consulting, and ownership of hospitality-related businesses. This new minor also brings in new connections as the department participates in the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) and similar events.

"We're lucky to have great relationships with alums and employers to meet ongoing industry requests. These relationships have helped us identify that the industry needs professionals with a strong understanding of critical hotel development concepts such as site selection, financing, franchising, branding, project management, financial forecasting, and modeling."

Edwin N. Torres
Department Chair

Departmental Offerings

Meeting Evolving Industry Demands

Programs of Study

From working with select global companies, the hospitality advisory board helps Saunders continually reshape its offerings, bringing a new focus to the department.

Beverage Management (formerly global food and beverage management)

The beverage management minor now hones into the beverage industry. Tapping into partners in the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes regions, students have emerged in a sought-after destination famous for its vineyards, microbrewery and spirits companies, and also home to Constellation Brands. Students learn how to effectively plan menus, pair food and beverages, manage customer experience, conduct operational management of finances, and manage beverage distribution by developing product knowledge on wine, beer, and spirits.

Sports, Events, and Entertainment Management (formerly sports and entertainment management)

The sports, events, and entertainment management minor was restructured to allow easier access so students from all RIT Colleges can enroll. The revamped minor also includes event management for students to learn how to optimize consumer and employee experiences through developing, implementing, marketing, and managing sports and entertainment organizations. Students are prepared to manage facilities, talent, events, sales, and other aspects across all industries.