Graduate Certificate Programs
Graduate certificates can be awarded to individuals who do not desire to work toward a degree as well as to students who are working on graduate degrees. Interested students must submit an official copy of their college transcript or diploma documenting receipt of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an acceptable grade point average mailed to the Virginia Tech Graduate School as part of the application process. We offer three HTM graduate certificates: Hospitality and Tourism Analytics and Revenue Management, International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy, and Entrepreneurship in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hospitality and Tourism Analytics and Revenue Management (100% online)
This graduate certificate will provide middle managers in the Hospitality and Tourism industry with the tools and skills required to engage in high-level strategic thinking and analysis in the areas of revenue management and business analytics. Specifically, this certificate will provide methods for students to utilize information systems as tools for dynamic forecasting of supply and demand and maximize profits in HTM-related businesses. Skills gained will ultimately allow certificate holders to compete for upper level managerial positions.
- Determine the strategic roles of information systems in today’s hospitality/tourism organizations.
- Implement information technology applications.
- Apply the components of Web marketing and distribution practices.
- Compare and contrast information systems that support business intelligence and data analytics in hospitality/tourism.
- Evaluate emerging data analytics tools in operations and strategic decision making.
- Analyze effectiveness and return on investment of information systems.
- Evaluate revenue management (RM) as a dynamic strategic process.
- Create and implement an effective RM process.
- Implement RM within the framework of Customer Relationship Management.
- Analyze the key elements of dynamic forecasting of demand, supply, cancellations and no-shows.
- Apply the key elements of setting RM controls and rate fences / restrictions.
- Analyze positioning, segmentation, target market selection, product development, pricing and channel management within the context of RM policies and processes.
- Manage the interface between revenue management with human resources and information systems management in hospitality service environments.
- Articulate and debate the ethical aspects of revenue management in hospitality services environments.
For more information including certificate overview and admissions and course requirements, click here.
International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy
The purpose of this certificate is to provide middle managers in the Hospitality and Tourism industry with the tools and skills required to prepare them to engage in high-level strategic thinking and analysis on a global scale. In particular, this certificate will provide specific methods for students to utilize as part of their analysis and understanding of international markets and trends in HTM and ultimately allow certificate holders to compete for upper level managerial positions.
- Apply the concepts of international strategic management and competitive strategy to the hospitality industries.
- Analyze and develop strategies to address contemporary issues in the international business environment facing multinational service firms in the hospitality industry, including global strategy formulation and implementation; technology challenges; diversity in customers and employees; political and legal concerns; and effective organizational structures for long term survival.
- Analyze current macro dimensions of international marketing, e.g., culture, politics, and economics; international comparative marketing systems; international marketing management decisions; and international strategic planning and control and extrapolate these dimensions to the hospitality industry.
For more information including certificate overview and admissions and course requirements, click here.
Entrepreneurship in Hospitality and Tourism Management
New entrepreneurs often possess innovative ideas but lack the business skills that will make them successful. Entrepreneurs differ from other business start-ups in that they are creating a unique and ground-breaking approach to a business. They have unique approaches, different business models, and/or innovative delivery techniques. The purpose of this certificate is to provide students with the specific tools and skills required to prepare them to engage in entrepreneurial activities in Hospitality and Tourism management. Specifically, this certificate will help students create a business plan that includes the financial, human resource, and leadership components vital for their success. What makes the program unique is the inclusion of an optional franchising course to provide students with the expertise needed to consider moving beyond their initial start-up to becoming a franchise in the future.
- Create a business plan tailored to entrepreneurial endeavors in Hospitality and Tourism Management;
- Analyze the practical leadership, marketing, financial, and production considerations for a variety of entrepreneurial initiatives for both new ventures and established firms in Hospitality and Tourism Management;
- Analyze and critique both past and current approaches to entrepreneurial leadership;
- Analyze human resources issues relevant to entrepreneurial activities in hospitality and tourism management;
- Apply the processes, practices and legal considerations of entrepreneurial endeavors in hospitality and tourism to real-time cases;
- Analyze and critique the various approaches to franchise concept development, the franchisor-franchisee relationship, franchise agreements, operational problems, and international franchising;
- Apply fundamentals of financial management to cases of entrepreneurial hotels, restaurants, institutions and similar service opportunities
For more information including certificate overview and admissions and course requirements, click here.
Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact: Dr. Kristin Lamoureux, Program Director, 703-538-3752, or Jackson Lassiter, Program Coordinator, 703-538-8349
