Hospitality: Event and Tourism Management
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Help others discover the joy of special occasions, travel, and cultural events. Gain hands-on experience in one of New York's premiere tourist regions and work with our local partners in the hospitality industry.
Career Outlook: Event Planner
Event planners create exciting and successful gatherings for all sorts of special occasions, from family celebrations to corporate outings. They are responsible for developing themes, arranging the necessary preparations, and attending to the logistics during the event. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 18% growth in meeting, convention, and event planning careers by 2030, which is much faster than the average workforce growth rate. The median annual wage for event planners was $49,470 in May 2021.
A.A.S. Program Overview
Learn how to develop themes and organize logistical details that help create a memorable event. Take courses in destination marketing, event management, and hospitality law while getting to know tourism professionals throughout the region. Additional courses in culinary arts, communication, and hotel management round out your education and prepare you for a career in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Learn from Industry Experts
Gain 600 hours of real-world training through our professional work experience program. Hone your skills with the support of regional experts who work in wineries, restaurants, hotels, and event centers. Our work experience program provides more flexibility than traditional internships, so you can develop the expertise you need for your personal career goals while networking with employers.
Course Highlight: HOS 105 Orientation to Hospitality
Meet with over a dozen leaders in Finger Lakes hospitality and tourism in our signature first-year experience course, Orientation to Hospitality. Designed as a guest lecture series, this course introduces you to a range of professional occupations, best practices, and current developments in the industry. Discover unique careers and opportunities while learning from experienced business owners, hotel managers, and event planners.
Real-World Event Planning
Create memorable experiences with our student-run events and our collaborative capstone project, Dinner at Julia's. Each year, hospitality, culinary arts, and viticulture students work together to host food and wine events for real patrons from the local community. Discover what it takes to run a successful event from start to finish by designing menus, setting up lighting, plating food, and serving tables.
Our Event and Tourism Management Degree is Available 100% Online
In addition to completing this degree in-person, our entire Event and Tourism Management program is available online. Study on your time and from a location that fits your busy schedule. Online learning provides a convenient and flexible way to earn an education. Learn more about FLCC online learning.
"One of the things I loved about FLCC was the support of my professors. I never once felt like there was a professor who wasn't on my side. The hospitality faculty are a professional network that I'm going to have for the rest of my career. I can reach out to them and know that they'll be there to help me find connections or answer questions. The college has career fairs and networking events to make sure that students not only have the education that they need to be successful, but the connections as well."
— Stephanie Chrysler, '19
A.A.S. Program Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
All students graduating from the A.A.S. in Hospitality and Tourism program will be able to:
- Draw on the “heart of a servant” philosophy to apply the concepts and skills necessary to achieve an outstanding and profitable guest and visitor experience.
- Model professional decorum and work ethic to exceed industry standards.
- Describe the economic impact hospitality and tourism brings to a region.
Additionally, students in this track will be able to:
- Assess how a destination creates a unique sense of place for visitors.
- Evaluate opportunity for collaboration with community stakeholders.
Career Pathways
The professional work experience and education you earn through this program prepares you for a wide range of hospitality careers. Some of these opportunities include:
- Convention Center Manager
- Destination Marketing Specialist
- Director of Cruise Activities
- Events Coordinator
- Tour Guide
- Travel Planner
Seamless Transfer Opportunities
Many four-year colleges and universities in the area offer a bachelor’s degree in event and tourism management or a related hospitality field. FLCC has an articulation agreement with SUNY Brockport, which ensures that our program graduates will enter Brockport's hospitality program in full junior standing.
Other program graduates have continued their education at the following institutions:
- Johnson & Wales University
- Niagara University
- Paul Smith’s College
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- SUNY Delhi
- SUNY Morrisville
Low-Cost Tuition and Scholarship Opportunities
Earn a quality education at an affordable rate. With our low cost-per-credit and general scholarship opportunities, you can maximize your potential with minimal debt. 80% of students are awarded scholarships or financial aid that help with the cost of college.
Faculty
Our Hospitality faculty bring a variety of real-world experiences in hotel, tourism, and event planning to the classroom. Your instructors have worked as food and beverage directors, executive chefs, and restaurant managers. They are eager to introduce you to the exciting world of hospitality and connect you with the regional employers they have come to know well over the years.
Explore Your Career Options
Map out a path toward your future career, and discover opportunities related to this area of study.