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Visit Mobile Honors Hospitality and Tourism Management with Hospitality Partner of the Year

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Posted on November 22, 2019

Alice Jackson

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Visit Mobile, the city鈥檚 official point of contact for leisure travelers, convention and meeting planners, bus tour operators and travel agents, has named the department of hospitality and tourism management at the University of South Alabama as recipient of its 2019 Hospitality Partner of the Year award.

Visit Mobile recognized the department, which prepares students for careers in a variety of businesses, including the hotel industry as well as nonprofits and government agencies that promote tourism and travel, for its strategic workforce recruitment development and sustainability plan for the area鈥檚 hospitality and tourism industry.

Dr. Robert Thompson, department chair, and Dr. Evelyn Green, assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management, said the award is affirmation that the department鈥檚 business-education partnership model approach is successful in meeting the needs of the industry. Outside the classroom, students regularly interact with local businesses through volunteerism, internships, mentoring, guest lectures and industry networking. Gaining on-the-job experience has helped the department鈥檚 graduates achieve a 92 percent industry job placement rate.

鈥淎s much as this award recognizes our faculty and staff, the recognition also belongs to all our industry partners,鈥� Green said. 鈥淚t is this symbiotic relationship that allows the program to strengthen instruction and enrich the education process for the students.鈥�

Thompson noted that for years the area suffered from a workforce shortage, particularly during high visitor periods. However, since USA started the department several years ago, talent recruitment has addressed the gaps in workplace training and development needs with the establishment of the Hospitality & Tourism Workforce Innovation Alliance. The unit of the University鈥檚 Office of Research & Economic Development, supported by USA鈥檚 College of Education and Professional Studies, is a catalyst for public-private collaboration to ensure workforce growth and sustainability for the hospitality and tourism industry with special emphasis on the Gulf Coast region.

The alliance 鈥渃reates 鈥榗heck us out鈥� opportunities for high school students through summer work programs, such as Y.E.S. to Hospitality, offered by the city of Mobile and USA for Baldwin County hospitality employers,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淭hese programs also serve as recruitment opportunities for hospitality and tourism management where students are groomed for future leadership and managerial roles.鈥�

Thompson added, 鈥淥nce placed in the workplace, USA continues to serve our graduates and help our employers invest in their human capital through customized professional development training offered through Serving Southern Hospitality certification workshops.鈥�

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