FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2004

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - With San Diego certain to be among the top vacation spots in the United States again this summer, the hospitality and tourism industry will continue to be a major employer in the region.

San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies is into the second year of its Professional Certificate in Hospitality, which already has helped many people land jobs in the industry.

The mission of the Professional Certificate in Hospitality is to develop the awareness and practice of fundamental competencies needed for successful transition from hospitality associate to high-performing hospitality manager in order to increase long-term success.

Instructors in this program have the highest level of expertise, knowledge and skills in the hospitality industry. Well-known Southern California restaurant, hotel, and tourism business professionals are teaching different aspects of the program.

Core courses include Hospitality Overview, Creating a Reputation for Excellent Service, Understanding the Profit Picture, and Managing Performance and Development. Electives include Hotel Operations, Working With Vendors, Casinos and Resorts, Safety and Sanitation Certification in Food Service Operations, and Hospitality and Employment Law.

This curriculum complements SDSU's existing four-year interdisciplinary degree, which leads to a Bachelor Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), which also administers a research institute, and continuing professional development in hospitality and tourism management. That program draws from SDSU's College of Business Administration and College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.

The College of Extended Studies' target audience for its hospitality program ranges from entry-level managers to supervisors to support staff to coordinators within the professional fields of hospitality and culinary arts. The program provides marketable industry-driven skills for improving operations, organizing the team, and developing a customer service driven environment while building career opportunities to transition to a career in hospitality.

Paris McRoy, director of customer care for Sycuan Casino & Resort, is program coordinator for the Professional Certificate in Hospitality.

"We want our certificate to be easily recognized in the San Diego hospitality community as a 'must have' for individuals looking to strengthen or move up in their career path in hospitality," she said. "We want our students to walk out with a clear understanding of what the hospitality industry means internationally and nationally, with an emphasis on San Diego."

Hospitality Advisory Board members for the new program include Pietro LaRosa, Antica Trattoria; Larry Marmon, Aztec Catering; Joe Busalacchi, Busalacchi's Restaurant; Judy Walker, California Restaurant Association; Dawn Meyers, Clarion Hotel Bay View; Terri Breining, Concepts Worldwide; Tom Gable, GCS Public Relations; Madeline Sherman, Hotel Del Coronado; Beresford Wall, Hotel Del Coronado; Kathleen Cochran, Loews Coronado Resort; Scott Swank, Pan Pacific Singapore; Patricia Reinhardt, Reinhardt Prep; Annette Gregg, San Diego Convention Services; Sue Mason, San Diego ConVis; Harold and Lili Meyberg, San Diego Culinary Institute; Lajuana Bradley, San Diego Hilton; Carl Winston, SDSU; Christine Donovan, Barona Valley Ranch; Joseph Miller, Sommelier Institute; Paris McRoy, Sycuan Casino; Jennifer Johnson, Grand Colonial; Terri Roberts, True North; Maggie Brown, Viejas Casino; and Cathy Bennett, Wiley Publications.

For more information on the hospitality program, call (619) 594-6255 or visit www.NeverStopLearning.net.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 25 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. To register or for more information, call (619) 594-5152 or log on to www.NeverStopLearning.net.