International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy Overview

Applications for the Graduate Certificate in International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy will be considered from students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Virginia Tech and from non-degree and Commonwealth Campus students who have undergraduate degrees.  Certificates will be awarded upon application for the certificate conferral once course requirements have been completed. The certificate has been designed so that both degree and non-degree seeking students from other majors may take the three courses within one semester and complete the certificate.

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 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.

Upon completion students will be able to:

·         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.

International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy Admission Requirements

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. Please contact us for specific instructions on applying online. Students should meet with an academic adviser familiar with the classes on the list below and submit the application form to the HTM Graduate Administrator for Certificate Program Approval signature no less than six months prior to completion of coursework.

International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy Course Requirements

Number of Credit Hours:        9 credit hours.  Transfer credits are not permitted.

Required Courses:

HTM 5534 Strategic Management and Competitive Strategy in the Hospitality Industries. To enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the concepts of strategic management and competitive strategy as applied to the hospitality industries. (3H, 3C)

HTM 5024 International Service Management. Overview of the contemporary issues in the international business environment facing multinational service firms in the hospitality industry. These issues include such topics as: global strategy formulation, and implementation; technology challenges; diversity in customers and employees; political and legal concerns; and effective organizational structures for long term survival. (3H, 3C)

 Restricted Elective Courses:

Choose one of the following:

MGT 5784 International Management. This course focuses on the management challenges associated with the development of strategies and the management of organizations in business enterprises whose operations stretch across national boundaries. It will provide students with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivities that will help them manage more effectively in an international environment. (3H, 3C)

MKTG 5704 International Marketing Strategy. This course provides the background to make managerial marketing decisions at the international level. It is composed of four sections: 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. (3H, 3C)