About Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism
Department Overview
Welcome to the new Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Here you will receive an industry-focused education necessary for shaping your career in these leading and quickly evolving fields.
As some of the largest industries and employers in the state, nation and world, the demand for skilled and capable individuals continues to increase. Our department strives to fulfill those needs by providing students with a world-class education that equips them with the knowledge, understanding and skills to be leaders in hospitality, hotel management and tourism.
We offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as minors and certificates, allowing students to expand and strengthen their education. Our world-class faculty and staff bring real-world experience to the classroom and provide support throughout the student’s educational journey.
Howdy and Welcome!
Our department is forging new territory for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Texas A&M University in the areas of hospitality, hotel management and tourism!
In 2023, our department was renamed as the Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism. Building upon our proud 57-year history as the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, we continue to prioritize the study of how people connect with the places and spaces around them. We are ideally placed to expand our scientifically-based approach to creating enhanced hospitality experiences.
We have a strong foundation to expand our educational mission into hospitality, with experiential learning at the heart of our approach.
I am delighted to embark on this journey with you, and look forward to connecting with you again soon!
With warm regards,
Dr. Brian King
Department Head
Mission
We foster student success and support, societal and community impact, and industry engagement. Our internationally recognized, interdisciplinary faculty create, disseminate and apply knowledge to benefit students, stakeholders and partners locally and globally. We conduct innovative research and deliver high impact student-centered experiences.
Values
We value experiential learning and transferable skills to prepare leaders, scholars and global citizens who make positive contributions, are problem solvers, and deliver excellent service through the Texas A&M Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Integrity, Selfless Service, Loyalty and Leadership. We educate, mentor and develop the next generation of leaders who make positive impacts on hospitality, tourism and recreation. We enhance the student experience through our applications of innovation, research and technologies. We celebrate the rich history, culture and values of our department, and promote hospitality by partnering with industry and with communities.
Vision
We are reimagining and elevating hospitality through innovation and excellence.
Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the News
Texas A&M students get close-up look at Swiss-style event management
A group of students from a class in Texas A&M’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently traveled to Switzerland as part of a study abroad experience in event management.
New report gives overview of visitors to Big Bend area
More than a half million people visited Big Bend National Park and the surrounding area in 2022, making it one of the state’s top tourist destinations.