Overview
Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program will give you hands-on, practical education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to succeed in the workforce.
You'll develop a strong understanding of the hospitality industry and gain knowledge in guest experience, sales and marketing, and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation.
Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality jobs, such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires adaptability, enthusiasm, and resilience. This career is perfect for you if you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals.
In the multi-disciplinary specialization, you'll select electives from various areas - including Hotel and Accommodations, Restaurant and Service Operations, Beverage Management, Travel and Tourism, Event Management, or Entrepreneurship and Innovation - to build a customized hospitality and tourism path. You'll apply your learning through practical, hands-on operations in the specialization of your choice and executing special events on and off campus with leading industry partners.
A career in hospitality provides many travel opportunities with jobs available all over the globe. When you graduate, your career options will be diverse. Consider an exciting career as a travel agent, event planner, food and beverage manager, or hotelier, or start your very own business - the sky’s the limit!
Is this the right fit for me?
To succeed in this program, you need to:
- Attend and actively participate in all classes
- Be prepared to work in teams
- Become familiar with and adhere to SAIT's policies and procedures
- Have strong written and oral communication skills
If you are engaged in campus life and take advantage of SAIT services and resources, you may be more likely to experience success in SAIT's programs.
Other specializations
Applicants to this program may also choose from these other specializations:
- Hotel and Accommodations
- Restaurant and Service Operations
- Beverage Management
- Travel and Tourism
- Event Management
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Professional designations and certifications
The program has ensured key certifications in food safety and hospitality and tourism awareness are incorporated and completed within the program.
Credential
Upon successfully completing this program, you will receive a SAIT Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma.
As a Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate, you can continue your education with the Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management degree.
Want to learn more about this and similar programs?
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per year:
Domestic total 2023/24
- Year 1: $8,071
- Year 2: $7,480
International total 2023/24
- Year 1: $21,702.31
- Year 2: $19,872.10
Final costs are dependent on the number of courses a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
SAIT teaches the skills to deliver on a guest service mindset in hospitality
Students level up their interpersonal skills to bring best-in-class service to future guests.
Admission requirements
Program requirements
Completion of the following courses or equivalents:
- At least 50% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 or Pure Math 30, or at least 60% in Applied Math 30, AND,
- At least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1, or at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-2.
All applicants, including those educated in Canada, must demonstrate English language proficiency.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After applying, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Direct entry: four-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Continue to monitor your application status through the application portal.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the hospitality@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | Aug. 18, 2023 |
| Spring 2023 | May 8, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
| Winter 2024 | Jan. 8, 2024 | Aug. 16, 2024 |
| Spring 2024 | May 6, 2024 | Dec. 13, 2024 |
Other specializations
When you take The Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma, you can choose one of the six specializations below to major in upon applying. This diploma will offer every student in every major exposure to common core topics, including:
- People, leadership, teams and culture
- Guest experience, sales and marketing
- Financial management
Common cores also include law and ethics, safety and certifications and an introduction to hospitality and tourism.
Beverage Management
Obtain in-depth beverage product knowledge in non-alcoholic beverages as well as wine, beer and spirits. Training will cover beverage sales and retail operations, inventory control and basic culinary understanding to build your skills in creating sustainable beverage programs.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Whether your passion is starting your own hospitality business or creating innovative products within a larger company, this specialization introduces you to the entrepreneurial mindset, design thinking and new venture planning. You will have the opportunity to study current industry trends and identify gaps to help provide creative solutions and drive new product development. This specialization offers elective opportunities from any other specialization.
Event Management
This specialization exposes you to all aspects of the event and meeting planning industry, from conventions to live events and festivals. You will gain applied knowledge in contract and stakeholder negotiations, event strategy planning and execution as you bring several events to life on campus and with industry partners, from small-scale VIP events to large events.
Hotels and Accommodation
Gain strong hotel industry knowledge on the interconnectivity of all departments that bring a guest experience to life through two practicum placements with leading hotel partners. You will also gain practical experience in front office management, hotel event planning, hotel revenue management and facilities design.
Restaurant and Service Operations
Learn service operations management skills through practical, hands-on training in the renowned Highwood restaurant and executing special events on and off campus with our key industry partners. Your training will cover beverage and service operations, facility management and design, as well as people leadership and inventory management.
Travel and Tourism
Gain travel product knowledge to prepare for a career in destination and travel planning. Your training will cover product and reservation systems, itinerary planning and design, special interest and sustainable tourism. You will have the opportunity to connect with industry partners in solving industry problems and selling and marketing products at our Travel Center on Campus.
Courses
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalog >
Open Studies courses available
Some courses in this program are available through Open Studies.
Open Studies is a great way to explore a certain subject before diving into the full program. See what courses are offered by finding this program on the Open Studies courses tab.
You'll take a common core of 16 courses over the length of your program and select six additional courses from the Multi-Disciplinary specialty in order to complete the program.
First year
Semester 1
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| BMAT-201 | Digital Technology for Business Math Applications | 3.0 |
| COMM-265 | Communication Fundamentals and Technology | 3.0 |
| HOSP-200 | Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism | 3.0 |
| HOSP-210 | Safety and Certifications | 1.5 |
| LDSH-202 | Self Awareness and Team Dynamics | 3.0 |
| MKTG-200 | Brand and Guest Experience | 3.0 |
| Semester 1 total | 16.5 | |
Semester 2
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT-206 | Financial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry | 3.0 |
| HRMT-320 | Human Resource Management | 3.0 |
| MKTG-250 | Service Marketing and Sales | 3.0 |
| PINT-200 | Professional Internship | 1.5 |
| REST-250 | Restaurant Operations and Services | 3.0 |
| Junior specialization elective (choose one of the following) | ||
| BEVM-210 | Beverage Exploration I | 3.0 |
| BEVM-250 | Beverage Sales and Retail | 3.0 |
| ENTI-250 | Entrepreneurial Mindset and Journey | 3.0 |
| ENTI-310 | New Venture Planning | 3.0 |
| EVNT-250 | Event Project Management | 3.0 |
| EVNT-260 | Live Events I | 3.0 |
| EVNT-350 | Event Contracts and Financials | 3.0 |
| HOTL-250 | Hotel Operations and Practicum | 3.0 |
| LODG-255 | Front Office Management | 3.0 |
| REST-310 | Culinary Arts and Management | 3.0 |
| TOUR-260 | Travel and Destination Exploration I | 3.0 |
| TOUR-300 | Travel and Destination Exploration II | 3.0 |
| TPRD-260 | Product and Reservation Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| Semester 2 total | 16.5 | |
| Year 1 total | 33.0 | |
Second year
Semester 3
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ECON-250 | Microeconomics | 3.0 |
| HOSP-300 | Law and Ethics in Hospitality and Tourism | 3.0 |
| LDSH-310 | Leading High-Performance Teams | 3.0 |
| REST-300 | Event Operations and Service | 3.0 |
| Junior specialization elective (choose one of the following) | ||
| BEVM-210 | Beverage Exploration I | 3.0 |
| BEVM-250 | Beverage Sales and Retail | 3.0 |
| ENTI-250 | Entrepreneurial Mindset and Journey | 3.0 |
| ENTI-310 | New Venture Planning | 3.0 |
| EVNT-250 | Events Project Management | 3.0 |
| EVNT-260 | Live Events I | 3.0 |
| EVNT-350 | Event Contracts and Financials | 3.0 |
| HOTL-250 | Hotel Operations and Practicum | 3.0 |
| HOTL-310 | Hotel Event Management | 3.0 |
| LODG-255 | Front Office Management | 3.0 |
| REST-310 | Culinary Arts and Management | 3.0 |
| TOUR-260 | Travel and Destination Exploration I | 3.0 |
| TOUR-300 | Travel and Destination Exploration II | 3.0 |
| TPRD-260 | Product and Reservation Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| Semester 3 total | 15.0 | |
Semester 4
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FNCE-350 | Financial Management in Hospitality | 3.0 |
| MKTG-390 | Marketing Strategy | 3.0 |
| LDSH-370 | Leadership and Organizational Culture | 3.0 |
| Senior specialization elective (choose two of the following) | ||
| BEVM-300 | Beverage Exploration II | 3.0 |
| BEVM-350 | Beverage Exploration III | 3.0 |
| BEVM-360 | Beverage Program Design and Management Capstone | 3.0 |
| ENTI-300 | Design Thinking and Innovation | 3.0 |
| ENTI-350 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation Capstone | 3.0 |
| EVNT-310 | Live Events II | 3.0 |
| EVNT-360 | Event Management Capstone | 3.0 |
| HOTL-300 | Hotel Operations Capstone | 3.0 |
| HOTL-350 | Hotel Revenue and Financial Management | 3.0 |
| PHYF-310 | Facilities Management and Design | 3.0 |
| REST-350 | Management of Service Operations Capstone | 3.0 |
| TOUR-360 | Special Interest Tourism and Sustainability | 3.0 |
| TPRD-300 | Tour and Travel Planning | 3.0 |
| TPRD-350 | Tour Product Design Capstone | 3.0 |
| Semester 4 total | 15.0 | |
| Year 2 total | 30.0 | |
| Program total | 63.0 | |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year. *
Domestic students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $6,501 | $948 | $622 | $8,071 |
| 2 | 2 | $5,910 | $948 | $622 | $7,480 |
International students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $20,132.31 | $948 | $622 | $21,702.31 |
| 2 | 2 | $18,302.10 | $948 | $622 | $19,872.10 |
*For a detailed breakdown of tuition costs per course, visit the domestic and international fee tables.
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.23/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about your tuition and financial aid options
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation (ORNT 118) for students starting in Fall 2023 will take place on campus August 31. Check your schedule in mySAIT for the time and location details.
Learn more about campus orientation.
How to register for classes
You'll need to register for your classes ahead of each semester.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn how to register for your classes and find important registration deadlines.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a standard hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Required equipment/tools
Uniforms will be required based on elective selection.
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.
Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck, no textbook purchase required this term.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.8612
Email: hospitality.info@sait.ca
Academic Chair
Mona James, Academic Chair
Email: mona.james@sait.ca
Rhonda Frazee, Academic Chair
Email: rhonda.frazee@sait.ca
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Your journey starts here
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