Entrepreneurship in Hospitality

Catalog description

The tourism and hospitality industries are especially attractive to entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial companies like AirBnB, TripAdvisor and Yelp! have changed the landscape of the industry, and there's much more change to come. This course introduces students to entrepreneurship in the tourism and hospitality industries, and to the concepts of business and market models, specifically as they apply to these industries. Students will learn about the history of the industries and study both established and emerging business models. The course will introduce the unique relationship between technology and its effect, especially the potential for disruptive change. The course leads students through the major steps of opportunity identification, value proposition design, and new venture realization, blending theory with practice. Students will be challenged to apply the principles, concepts and frameworks to real life situations, and will conceive and develop their their own startup ideas.