Overview
Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program will give you practical hands-on education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to achieve success in the workforce.
During this program, you will develop a strong understanding of the hospitality and tourism industries. You will gain knowledge in guest experiences delivery, sales and marketing, service and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation. You will expand your knowledge by choosing a specialization in travel and tourism, entrepreneurship and innovation, hotel and accommodation management, restaurant and service operations, event management, beverage management and more.
Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality and tourism jobs such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires you to be adaptable, enthusiastic and resilient. If you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals, then this career is perfect for you.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation specialization
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.
| Upon graduation | After 3-5 years |
|---|---|
| Business owners | A leader in new tech |
| Municipal bylaw | A leader in sharing economy |
| Property management/lease | Working hard to raise capital for your dream! |
| Authority – requirements and management | |
| Finance development (profit/loss/costs) | |
| Marketing and sales | |
| Seeker of opportunity | |
| Idea generator – contributor | |
| Ability to assess – viability, current status, scalability, succession or exit |
Other areas of specialization:
- Hotel and Accommodations
- Restaurant and Service Operations
- Beverage Management
- Travel and Tourism
- Event Management
- Multi-Disciplinary
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, 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 should:
- Attend and actively participate in all classes
- Be prepared to work in teams and within the industry to get workplace experience
- Have an understanding of the hospitality and tourism industry, including rewards and challenges
- Become familiar 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.
Credential
After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma. As a Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate, you will have the opportunity to continue into the Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management degree to further your education in the field.
Want to learn more about this and similar programs?
Tuition and fees
Domestic 2022/23
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Year 1: $7,706
- Year 2: $7,139
International 2022/23
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Year 1: $20,827.13
- Year 2: $19,067.30
Final costs are dependent on the number of course credits 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.
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Admission requirements
Program requirements
Completion of the following courses or equivalents:
- at least 50% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2.
- at least 50% English Language Arts 30-1 or at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-2.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
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 you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of 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 mySAIT.ca.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2022 | May 9, 2022 | Dec. 16, 2022 |
| Fall 2022 | Sept. 6, 2022 | April 28, 2022 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
Other specializations
When you take The Hospitality and Tourism Management diploma, you must 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.
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.
Multi-Disciplinary
Choose a multi-disciplinary approach and select electives from various specializations to build a customized hospitality and tourism path. You will apply that learning through practical, hands-on operations in the specialization of choice and executing special events on and off campus with leading industry partners.
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.
Students take a common core of 16 courses over the length of their program, and select 6 additional courses from one of the specialties: Hotels and Accommodation, Restaurant and Service Operations, Beverage Management, Event Management, Travel and Tourism, or Multi-Disciplinary in order to complete the program as part of their specialization and applied learning.
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 2
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT-206 | Financial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry | 3.0 |
| PINT-200 | Professional Internship | 1.5 |
| HRMT-320 | Human Resource Management | 3.0 |
| MKTG-250 | Service Marketing and Sales | 3.0 |
| Plus two courses specific to the specialization |
Specialization courses
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ENTI-250 | Entrepreneurial Mindset and Journey | 3.0 |
| Junior Specialization Elective (choose one) | ||
| BEVM-210 | Beverage Exploration I | 3.0 |
| BEVM-250 | Beverage Sales and Retail | 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 I | 3.0 |
| HOTL-310 | Hotel Event Management | 3.0 |
| LODG-255 | Front Office Management | 3.0 |
| REST-250 | Restaurant Operations and Service | 3.0 |
| REST-310 | Culinary Arts and Management | 3.0 |
| TOUR-260 | Travel and Destination Exploration I | 3.0 |
| TOUR-360 | Travel and Destination Exploration II | 3.0 |
| TPRD-260 | Product and Reservation Fundamentals | 3.0 |
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 |
| Plus two courses specific to the specialization |
Specialization courses
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ENTI-300 | Design Thinking and Innovation | 3.0 |
| ENTI-310 | New Venture Planning | 3.0 |
Semester 4
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FNCE-350 | Financial Management in Hospitality | 3.0 |
| LDSH-370 | Leadership and Organizational Culture | 3.0 |
| MKTG-390 | Marketing Strategy Capstone | 3.0 |
| Plus two courses specific to the specialization |
Specialization courses
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ENTI-350 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation Capstone | 3.0 |
| Senior Specialization Elective (choose one) | ||
| BEVM-300 | Beverage Exploration II | 3.0 |
| BEVM-350 | Beverage Exploration III | 3.0 |
| BEVM-360 | Beverage Program Design and Management | 3.0 |
| EVNT-310 | Live Events II | 3.0 |
| EVNT-360 | Live Events III | 3.0 |
| HOTL-300 | Hotel Operations and Practicum II | 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 | 3.0 |
| TOUR-360 | Special Interest Tourism and Sustainability | 3.0 |
| TPRD-300 | Tour and Travel Planning | 3.0 |
| TPRD-350 | Tour Product Design | 3.0 |
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 2022/23
Domestic tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $189
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $6,237 | $916 | $553 | $7,706 |
| 2 | 2 | $5,670 | $916 | $553 | $7,139 |
International tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $586.61
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $19,358.13 | $916 | $553 | $20,827.13 |
| 2 | 2 | $17,598.30 | $916 | $553 | $19,067.30 |
*Maximum fee. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits a student takes per semester and whether they opt-out of health and dental benefits.
SAIT fees
- Campus athletic and recreation fee: $196
- Universal transit pass (Upass): $320
- Student support fee: $200
- Student technology fee: $200
Saitsa fees
Student Association fee
- Maximum: $291
This is the maximum amount the student will pay. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits the students take per semester.
Health and dental fees
- Health plan: $127
- Dental plan: $135
Students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Please refer to Saitsa's website for information.
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 tuition and financial aid.
*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
Your program orientation (ORNT 118) will be held on campus on Sept. 1. Check your schedule in mySAIT for the time and location details.
Learn more about campus orientation.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on March 1 through March 15 for Spring 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
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.
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
Hala Dehais, Academic Chair
Email: hala.dehais@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!
