Chippewa Valley Times

At the University of Wisconsin-Stout, students enrolled in executive hospitality management programs are gaining a comprehensive education that extends beyond traditional classroom settings. The curriculum incorporates practical experiences at campus-based restaurants, leading hotels, golf courses, and internships with industry leaders.

UW-Stout has been a prominent educator in the hospitality sector for over 55 years. This longstanding expertise has earned it the No. 9 spot in CEOWorld magazine's global rankings of top hospitality and hotel management schools for 2024.

The university has consistently maintained a strong position in these rankings over the past seven years. Notably, all top ten schools this year are based in the United States, while universities from Canada, India, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom featured in positions eleven to twenty.

CEOWorld is described as a business and technology magazine aimed at high-level executives.

Executive Hospitality Management is part of UW-Stout's School of Management. It offers programs such as hotel, restaurant and tourism management—available both on-campus and online—golf enterprise management, and real estate property management. Students pursuing other management disciplines can specialize or minor in related fields like golf or property management.

Professor Kristal Gerdes commented on UW-Stout's educational approach: “UW-Stout has built its reputation on a unique educational model that combines real-world experience, strong industry connections and innovative, hands-on learning. Partnerships with industry leaders...create unmatched opportunities for students.” She emphasized that recent rankings highlight faculty commitment to providing cutting-edge education tailored to industry needs.

The university’s Career Services report indicates that all recent hospitality graduates found employment within six months of graduation. Professor Gerdes attributes this success to program quality and demand for UW-Stout graduates across the industry.

Innovative courses include a Service Excellence course developed with Forbes Travel Guide (FTG). Professor Eric Brey noted: “UW-Stout is the first university in the world with this FTG collaboration.”

Other offerings involve practical experiences such as operating Fireside Café—a public restaurant—and field trips like those to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions where students engage directly with industry professionals.

Students gain further exposure through required internships or cooperative education experiences with companies like Destination Kohler and Omni Hotels. They also have opportunities through professional organizations' campus chapters.

UW-Stout alumni have established careers globally at prestigious hotels and properties. Brian Hicks—a 1991 graduate—was recently appointed CEO of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International after starting his career at Ritz Carlton hotels.