Hospitality and Tourism Management

Your global adventure starts here.

Studying hospitality and tourism management at UVA Wise will open doors for you around our region, throughout the U.S., and across the globe. Our students gain the essential skillsets needed to successfully lead within global hospitality and tourism industries by combining academics with real-world experience. From innovative assignments in the classroom to valuable internships, you can earn a premiere education at UVA Wise

Career Opportunities:

• Lodging / Hotel / Retail / Resort Manager
• Front Office Manager
• Entrepreneur
• Business Consultant
• Marketing / Human Resource Manager
• Director of Housekeeping
• Spa Director
• Casino Manager
• Theme Park Manager
• Wedding Planner
• Event Sales Coordinator
• Conference Organizer
• Entertainment Manager
• Travel Agent / Holiday Counselor
• Cruise Agent
• Food Service Manager
• Airport Manager

Focus on What You Do Best

We combine academics with professional development and real-life experience. Students will engage in innovative assignments and exciting projects that prepare them for a solid foundation to achieve individual career goals. Students also have the option to take an internship or count their prior work experience for up to 21 credits in their experiential learning and major elective courses, allowing them to apply the knowledge into practice on the job.

Deliver Experiences

The new undergraduate degree at UVA Wise builds on top of a core set of liberal arts education and business skills necessary to operate a hospitality and tourism organization successfully. By completing all required courses for 120 credits, you will be ready to create the experience of a lifetime.

"Friendly. Inspiring. Innovative. Ethical. — These are the core values of our program. We aim to prepare our graduates with these personalities for the industry." - Professor Brewer, Ph.D.

Beyond the Classroom

Gain immersive industry experience through a variety of hands-on learning opportunities. From site visits to Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol to behind-the-scenes learning experiences at Dollywood, you’ll step inside the world of luxury hospitality, tourism operations and event management. Closer to home, you can gain valuable professional experience at The Inn at Wise, where many students have worked and interned while also participating in class projects like hotel room inspections led by industry professionals.

Salary Average Examples

Hotel Manager Salary

• In Virginia - $58,615 per year
• Across the US - $61,699 per year                             

Hospitality Manager Salary

• In Virginia - $63,668 per year
• Across the US - $58,224 per year

Food Service Director Salary 

• In Virginia - $74,374 per year
• Across the US - $69,894 per year

Travel Agent Salary

• In Virginia - $48,787 per year
• Across the US - $54,903 per year

Event Sales Coordinator Salary

• In Virginia - $57,422 per year
• Across the US - $59,966 per year

Casino Dealer Salary

• In Virginia - $70,931 per year, excluding tips
• Across the US - $49,767 per year, excluding tips

Airport Manager Salary

• In Virginia - $82,998 per year
• Across the US - $45,674 per year

Service Manager Salary in US

• In Virginia - $76,519 per year
• Across the US - $74,365 per year

Transferrable Skills

• Customer Service skills
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Listening skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Organizational skills
• Time-management skills