The Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Department has added a new emphasis in Recreation and Leisure Management.
There are four other areas of emphasis for HTM majors, including food and beverage management, lodging management, meeting and event management, and tourism management.
Scott Rood, assistant department chair, said the addition of this fifth emphasis sets the HTM program apart from others in the state and country.
"Many colleges and universities offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, but no other institution offers the distinctive opportunities that Grand Valley does through our five diverse and practical emphases and unique adventure tourism management minor," Rood said.
Recreation and leisure professionals design, stage, implement and evaluate a variety of recreation programs at resorts, camps, and municipal park and recreation agencies throughout the country. Employment opportunities include park and campground directors, outdoor recreation managers and programmers, resort recreation managers and theme park activity directors.
The new emphasis brings the addition of two new courses in recreation and leisure programming and leadership.
"Programmers are involved in an increasingly diverse set of program operations requiring more in-depth education and training," said Rood. "The practice of programming and leadership has become more sophisticated. These new courses will help prepare our students to be competitive for careers in a broad range of industries."
Grand Valley's HTM program includes:
• 17 full-time faculty and staff who all have industry experience and engage outside the classroom
• Approximately 600 majors and minors
• Education programs encompassing all aspects of the industry including events, food and beverage, lodging, tourism and recreation
For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/htm.
