MASTER'S PROGRAM
HSMAI has partnered with the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to launch a distance-learning program leading to the Master of Hospitality Administration (MHA) with a concentration in Hospitality Marketing. According to Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, Executive Vice President & CEO of HSMAI,
"Most hospitality and travel industry sales and marketing professionals are time impoverished and embrace the Internet because of the freedom it offers them to execute tasks anywhere and at any time. Therefore, a distance-learning program which enables them to further their professional education - particularly to enhance the financial management and analytical skills necessary today - and have access to course materials via the Internet is the perfect solution."
As an added incentive, Mr. Gilbert has announced that the association will be offering a $4,290 scholarship to help offset tuition costs for any HSMAI member that enrolls in the program.
The two-year program of study is delivered in an executive format, allowing participants to continue their current employment. It utilizes Internet coursework to reduce time away from home and allow participants to continue studies even while traveling on the road.
According to John Bowen, Director of Graduate Studies, UNLV, the program is designed to provide marketing managers with the tools and problem-solving ability needed in today's marketing environment. Students will work together in a highly interactive program geared specifically to meet the challenges faced in their role as professionals. Each course will have a face-to-face meeting with students, and then students will use the Internet to interact with the professor and complete the remainder of the course. The Internet will also become the source of reading materials, enabling students to have the equivalent of a university research library available electronically.
Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprised of over 5,000 members and 76 regional chapters in 35 countries worldwide. The Association membership is comprised of individuals from hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, car rental agencies, theme parks and attractions, convention and visitors bureaus, destination management companies, reservations sales organizations, restaurants, golf and recreation sites, and much more. HSMAI is the largest international association of travel sales and marketing professionals.
To receive additional information and an application for the MHA Program, contact the Graduate Program Office at the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, UNLV at 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 456017, Las Vegas, NV 89154-6017 or call (702) 895-3161 or via e-mail at bowen@ccmail.nevada.edu.
