Hotel Operations Management: Tactics for Profitability

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Overview

This first-class introduction to hotel operations is taught at Cornell's world-renowned School of Hotel Administration, currently ranked number one in the world for hospitality management. During the program, you'll:

• explore the world's largest and most dynamic industry,
• develop your business, management, and leadership experience; and
• refine your computer, communication, and analytical skills.

The hospitality industry—which includes hotels, resorts, restaurants, food service businesses, casinos, cruise ships, clubs, transportation, and tourism—is a 3.5 trillion dollar, high-growth service-industry within the global economy. It touches everyone. Through presentations, case studies, research, guest speakers, computer simulations, and more, this program will introduce you to the scope of the hospitality industry, to the major players, and to the market forces at play in this competitive field.

First, you'll develop a framework for understanding the hospitality industry. You'll examine the primary business models and ownership structures in the industry and identify the values that drive luxury, mid-price, budget, traditional brand, franchise, and independent hotels. You'll also become familiar with the operating strategies and structures of some of the largest hotels--including Wyndham Worldwide, InterContinental, Marriott International, Accor, Choice, Hilton, Best Western, Starwood, Carlson, and Hyatt--and examine a variety of food and beverage companies.

Next, you'll focus on an individual hotel operation to learn more about hotel departments and their management, people, functions, and influence on the guest experience. To understand how revenues and expenses are managed, you'll review a "typical" full-service hotel's financial statement.

Finally, you'll use the acclaimed CHESS Hotel Simulation to operate a virtual 250-room hotel. Through this advanced simulation you'll learn how to maximize your hotel's revenues and profits while also meeting the needs of your guests and your shareholders. To conclude the course, you'll analyze your hotel's financial information and present a business plan.

Throughout the program you'll develop professional and effective oral and written business communication skills, learn to write a concise and well-organized business report, and practice Microsoft Office 2007 skills in our state-of-the-art computing lab. You'll also hear about hospitality careers and the real challenges and rewards of working in this exciting industry.

This program is taught by faculty from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration. "The Hotel School" is the first school in the U.S. to offer college-level education in hospitality management and is the only hospitality program in the Ivy League. It focuses on preparing students for career success at the higher levels of management as well as producing successful entrepreneurs.

"Hotel Operations Management" combines elements from several required freshmen courses at The Hotel School. The instructors, Reneta McCarthy, academic director, and Mark McCarthy, between them have four degrees from The Hotel School, twenty years of operations experience in the hospitality industry, and an additional twenty years of teaching experience at The Hotel School.

To be eligible for this program, you must have completed your sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school by June 2009.

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Overview | Course | Faculty | A typical day | Events | Apply