FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2004

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

SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - In "America's Finest City," the hospitality and tourism industry continues to thrive.

Tourism is the San Diego region's third-largest industry, following the manufacturing and defense industries. Overnight visitors to San Diego reached 15.4 million in 2003, a 2.2 percent increase over the previous year, according to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau.

With hospitality and tourism being such a major player in the region, San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies has responded by establishing Professional Certificate programs in Hospitality, Casino Gaming, and The Business of Wine.

The hospitality and tourism demand in San Diego is punctuated by the fact that our city ranked in second place as America's favorite city, according to the national travel publication Travel & Leisure. San Diego placed among the top five cities in all "quality of life" categories in the online survey of approximately 500,000 people.

Instructors in all hospitality programs at SDSU's College of Extended Studies have the highest level of expertise, knowledge and skills in the industry. Well-known Southern California professionals will teach different aspects of the Hospitality, The Business of Wine and Casino Gaming programs.

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."

This curriculum complements SDSU's previous program that includes a four-year interdisciplinary degree, 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 newest certificate program in The Business of Wine derives from the fact that the wine business continues to boom in our state.

California wine shipments posted record growth again in 2003, according to year-end figures released by wine industry consultant Jon Fredrikson in the Gomberg-Fredrikson Report. According to the report, California wine shipments to the U.S. market in 2003 reached another record high, growing four percent over the previous year to 417 million gallons.

The Professional Certificate in Casino Gaming will place individuals in another thriving field. San Diego County's 14 casinos employ a total of more than 25,000 people, with more jobs being available than qualified people to fill them.

For more information on the hospitality programs, 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 30 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.