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News

Hilton College expands to Sugar Land

New hospitality concentration will be offered at System satellite campus starting in the fall

by Mohammed Olokode
The Daily Cougar

Students will have a new concentration to choose from at the UH satellite campus in Sugar Land this fall.

The UH Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management will offer starting in fall an undergraduate concentration at UH System at Sugar Land, the off-campus teaching center.

The new concentration is being offered through the UH distance education department, and classes will be held at the distance education center.

Hilton College Associate Dean of Academics Carl Boger said the program's purpose is to benefit the community and the economy of the Sugar Land area.

"Many of our students live in the suburbs and one of the areas is Sugar Land. And we also are trying to be supportive of the industry out in the area, so it's both for the students and the industry," Boger said. "The goal is to prepare students to prepare themselves to take an active role upon graduation in the hospitality field."

Support from businesses in the area aided the push for a concentration in hospitality services, Kevin Simon, director of undergraduate studies at the Hilton College, said.

"Part of it is not just the students, but also for the community itself," Simon said. "There's a need out there in the event industry, the event aspect of the hospitality industry. And I think part of this is to also satisfy those constituents of people out there, and that's one of the reasons they back us and they're supporting us in this endeavor out there."

Even though the concentration is available at the main campus with the exact same courses, there is one difference between the offerings. Students in the program at Sugar Land will have the opportunity to participate in The Grand Wine and Food Affair, a wine and food festival held each spring featuring 30 separate events. More than 6,700 people participated in April in the event where students can acquire industry experience.

There are 15 hours of classes to choose from in the concentration, with 12 required to complete it. In Fall 2006 and 2007, the courses offered are Hospitality Marketing, and Conventions and Meeting Management. In Spring 2007 and 2008, Hotel Sales, Wine Appreciation, and Event Administration will be offered.

Event management involves managing and planning activities such as sporting events, conferences, fundraising events and weddings, and it's one of the fastest growing segments in the hospitality industry.

Event planning is, however, just one aspect of an industry that is growing.

"The hospitality industry is more of the global umbrella ... in almost a lot of the service ends of, you know, of just about any business. Anything, you know, one can do anywhere else we generally need in the hospitality industry," Simon said. "Professions in the field include hospitality engineers, hospitality marketers and hospitality attorneys that specialize in the hospitality industry."

Simon said working with the industry is a vital part of hospitality education.

"You know, we've very lucky at the Conrad Hilton College," he said. "We are truly one of the premier hospitality educational programs in the world today, and I think a good part of that success has to do with our friends out there in the industry, our friends who support us, who know what we're doing, who help us to accomplish our goal.

"Ultimately, if we're successful in our endeavors, we're going to be channeling smart, sharp educated individuals to go take those leadership positions out in the industry."
 

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