VacantReady

Released – August 30, 2007

Victoria – To meet growing demand for skilled tourism professionals in British Columbia, Canada and abroad, the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at Royal Roads University is launching two graduate-level certificate programs, the first of their kind in Canada.

Designed for owners, managers, executives, educators and operators across the hospitality and tourism sectors, the new Graduate Certificate in Tourism Leadership begins 22 October 2007, followed by the Graduate Certificate in Destination Development on 14 January 2008.

Both six-month programs blend a short residency at Royal Roads University with online course work, allowing tourism professionals to remain in their hometowns and workplaces while advancing their careers.

British Columbia’s tourism industry projects it will need 84,000 more tourism professionals by 2015.  Meanwhile, up to one-third of the tourism industry leaders in senior and executive positions in the province could be retired by 2011. Dr. Brian White, director of RRU’s School of Tourism and Hotel Management, says the graduate certificate programs will go a long way to close the mounting skills gap in B.C.’s hospitality sector, a need being felt right across Canada.

“B.C.’s tourism sector is expected to go full-steam ahead for the next decade. The province needs highly motivated, highly skilled tourism workforce to stay competitive in the global tourism market,” says White. “The graduate certificate in destination development and tourism leadership will give students a timely, relevant education and the tools they need to stay on top in this intensely competitive industry.”

The Destination Development program focuses destination development, innovative product and niche market development, marketing and e-marketing required toestablish and maintain successful sustainable tourism destinations.

The Tourism Leadership is an ideal qualification for anyone with leadership responsibilities and aspirations in the tourism industry. The program focuses individual, organization, community and industry tourism leadership, understand personal accountabilities as a leader, and the dynamics of leading change in complex environments and the global tourism industry.

“Professionals in hospitality and tourism require a broad cross-section of skills to succeed in their jobs and to brand British Columbia as a premier destination in the world,” says Nancy Arsenault, dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management. “Royal Roads is working with industry to define their needs and introduce new, relevant programs with program schedules that begin in October rather than September so the learners’ priorities to focus on the summer travel season are respected. Preparing the next generation of tourism leaders with the skills to excel in the global tourism market is our goal; ensuring accessibility for working professionals is our priority.”

For more information about the Destination Development and Tourism Leadership graduate certificates, call 1-866-892-7272, or see the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at http://www.royalroads.ca/programs/faculties-schools-centres/faculty-tourism-hotel-management.

For media queries, contact:
Communications Officer, Phil Saunders
(250) 391-2526, cel (250) 812-5065 or,

Community Relations Director, Stephanie Slater
(250) 391-2712, cel (250) 361-5020

http://www.royalroads.ca