FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2005

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

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, September 22, 2005 -The hospitality and tourism industry continues to thrive in the San Diego region.

In 2005, the total number of visitors to San Diego is projected to reach 27.5 million, according to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Center for Hospitality and Tourism Research at San Diego State University.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies (CES) supports this industry's growth through Professional Certificates in Casino Gaming, Hospitality, and The Business of Wine. Seasoned industry experts deliver practical, "behind-the-scenes" knowledge that goes beyond textbooks. CES students, seeking the shortest route to their career-enhance goals, can create a specialized certificate from these three areas or place full emphasis in one area of study.

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.

The College of Extended Studies expanded its curriculum this fall to include a Professional Certificate in Casino Gaming Online program. Utilizing the same curriculum as the already established Professional Certificate in Casino Gaming, this online program provides you with the skills to succeed at any level in this fast-growing industry.

You will quickly and thoroughly learn the latest developments and issues facing the gaming industry while developing critical skills for career advancement, whether you take the program online or in person. Instructors are industry professionals who provide relevant and practical information based on their areas of expertise and knowledge.

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 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 certificate program in The Business of Wine derives from the fact that the wine business continues to boom in our state.

According to California Wine and Food Magazine, our state is projected to post the highest restaurant-sales volume in the nation in 2005, with projected restaurant sales of $51.5 billion.

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

These are San Diego State University Research Foundation programs managed by SDSU's College of Extended Studies.

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) 265-SDSU (7378) or log on to www.NeverStopLearning.net.