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About Our School

SAIT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism can trace its roots back to the late 1940s when the two-year Industrial Dressmaking and Millinery (women’s hat-making) changed its focus and name.  Hat-making was replaced with Commercial Cooking, and what has followed is almost 75 years of evolution. From programs and curriculums, to redesigning and establishing facilities, to guiding and mentoring our students, we are in the business of inspiring and creating the future leaders of the industry.

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A woman watches a culinary expo at SAIT in the 1950s
Culinary Expo, SAIT, 1950s
A group photo of students and instructors from the Commercial Cooking program, 1963
Commercial cooking class, SAIT, ca 1963
A group of four SAIT culinary students seated for an informal photo after winning student awards in 1985
Culinary Student Awards Winners, SAIT, 1985
A group of SAIT Hospitality and Tourism students from 1983 pose for a group photo
SAIT School of Hospitality and Tourism students, 1983
Hotel and Tourism Management students wearing white cowboy hats pose on the steps to Heritage Hall in the Irene Lewis Atrium, July 2022
SAIT Hotel and Tourism Management students celebrate successfully completing their White Had Ambassador training, July 2022

Dean's Message

"Life is a journey and if you are reading this, chances are you are wondering if SAIT's School of Hospitality and Tourism is the right choice for you, as you explore the next steps in your journey. That's a great question, and one only you can answer.

What I can do, however, is help provide some insight about why our school might be an incredible choice for you."

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SAIT alumnus Luis Alves of Booking.com, SAIT alumna Vanessa Gagnon of Platform Calgary and John Vardalos, CEO of J5 Design to join us to discuss what has been driving innovation in their respective sectors.
Join James Overall, Fraser Abbott of the Hotel Arts Group and SAIT alumnus Derek Brewster of Lotte New York Palace to discuss what recovery looks like for their properties and advice for hospitality graduates heading into the field.
Travel Alberta’s VP of Destination Development, Shelley Grollmuss, and Tourism Calgary’s Senior VP of Marketing, Jeff Hessel, join James Overall, to discuss the pandemic’s impact on local tourism and the critical skills they look for in new hires.
Local restaurateurs Cam Dobranski (Wine Bar Kensington, EATCROW Snack Bar, Container Bar) and Kelly Black (Una Pizza + Wine, BMeX Restaurant Group) stop by for a discussion about COVID-19’s impact on business and what’s next for their industry.

A cut above the rest

SAIT's School of Hospitality and Tourism offers relevant and in-demand programs to develop hospitality leaders of the future.

Building job‑ready graduates

Industry- Aligned programs

World‑Class faculty

Hands‑on learning

Leading‑edge Venues and 'Living Classrooms'

Action‑based Learning

From our world-renowned, industry-recognized instructors to leading-edge facilities and classrooms, our approach to immersive learning will give you the skills and knowledge employers demand in today’s dynamic marketplace.

Industry-Aligned programs

  • Industry Advisory Committees
  • Networking
  • Industry events
  • HOSPO career fair

World‑Class faculty

  • Award-winning, industry-recognized instructors
  • Global teaching perspectives
  • Faculty includes 1 of only 5 Master Chefs in Canada

Leading‑edge Venues and 'Living Classrooms'

  • Destinations Travel Centre
  • Six student-run culinary outlets
  • State-of-the art commercial kitchens
  • Small class sizes for strong connections

Action‑based Learning

  • Hands-on learning for career readiness
  • Paid internships
  • Capstone projects
  • Integration of current industry software and tools
  • Local, national and international student competitions

Awards and recognition

The SAIT School of Hospitality and Tourism is consistently recognized as one of the best hospitality schools in the world. We are proud to be the only school in Canada to hold a Top 50 hospitality school ranking with both CEOWORLD Magazine and QS University Rankings.

Being among the world’s leading institutes of learning in hospitality, tourism and the culinary arts, we set ourselves apart through our drive for excellence and our unrivalled commitment to student success. We’ve received many awards and accolades over the years — all thanks to the passion and dedication of our students, faculty, alumni and our strong connections to the industry.

Global recognition