Collaborative Consortium for Hospitality and Tourism Excellence

The Collaborative Consortium for Hospitality and Tourism Excellence (CCHTE) is a multi-institutional partnership led by Texas A&M University’s Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism(HMGT). Bringing together four leading partner institutions—Penn State University, Florida International University, University of Houston, and Cal Poly Pomona—the consortium is designed to foster collaboration in hospitality and tourism education. Its purpose is to expand pathways for high-achieving, diverse students into doctoral and graduate programs, while strengthening long-term faculty partnerships across institutions.

Student Opportunities with CCHTE
Faculty Opportunities with CCHTE

Purpose of CCHTE

The Vision

The vision of the Collaborative Consortium for Hospitality and Tourism Excellence (CCHTE) is to diversify and strengthen graduate education in HMGT at TAMU by expanding access for high-achieving students from varied backgrounds. Through sustained faculty partnerships and innovative programming, the consortium aims to create long-term research impact, foster interdisciplinary scholarship, and prepare the next generation of leaders in hospitality and tourism. 

The Goal

The consortium is designed to broaden access to doctoral pathways for students from diverse backgrounds and academic settings. By partnering with universities that serve large and varied undergraduate populations, the program ensures that talented students, who may not otherwise have structured exposure to graduate research opportunities, can engage in meaningful academic enrichment. This approach strengthens the pipeline of domestic students pursuing advanced degrees in hospitality and tourism, building a more inclusive and representative doctoral community. 

The Solution

CCHTE addresses this goal through a strategic, collaborative model that leverages the strengths of Texas A&M University and four leading partner institutions. By implementing recruitment visits, immersive summer institutes, interdisciplinary symposiums, and sustained mentorship, the consortium creates inclusive and supportive pathways to doctoral education. This model ensures broader access, deeper faculty collaboration, and stronger long-term outcomes in research and graduate education across the field. 

Financial and Administrative Support

HMGT has committed both financial and administrative support to ensure the success and sustainability of the consortium. The department will provide ongoing resources to sustain core activities beyond the grant period. Administrative support will be coordinated by program and administrative staff, ensuring smooth operations for recruitment, symposiums, and the Summer Experience Institute. Faculty leadership from HMGT will guide the consortium’s strategic direction, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and long-term sustainability. 

The Texas A&M University Graduate School is the primary financial funder for the program. This project is funded through the Pathways to the Doctorate Collaboration Grants.

Quotes from Institutional Support & Letters

  • Penn State University: “We are eager to participate in these programs and establish a long-term relationship between the four institutions under the leadership of TAMU.”
  • Florida International University: “As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, FIU is deeply committed to fostering academic opportunity and expanding access to graduate study for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. We view this partnership as an exciting opportunity to cultivate inclusive academic pathways.”
  • University of Houston: “This initiative aligns strongly with our institutional priorities to expand access to graduate education, advance applied research in the hospitality field, and support academic pathways for students from varied backgrounds.”
  • Cal Poly Pomona: “We recognize the value of this partnership in establishing a sustainable pipeline to graduate study, and we are enthusiastic about the potential outcomes.”

Outcomes & Impact

Faculty and student development

The consortium enhances faculty and student growth through research collaboration, professional development workshops, and mentoring opportunities. Faculty benefit from expanded networks, co-authoring opportunities, and skill-building in emerging research methods, while students gain confidence, academic readiness, and hands-on experience in advanced research and leadership. 

Broadening participation in doctoral education

By actively engaging students from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and a broad range of educational settings, the consortium expands access to doctoral pathways for students who have faced barriers to advanced study. This effort strengthens the pipeline of domestic students pursuing advanced degrees in hospitality and tourism, fostering a doctoral community that is more reflective of the breadth of educational institutions and student backgrounds in our state and nation.

Long-term institutional partnerships

The program fosters enduring collaborations among Texas A&M and its partner institutions through joint programming, faculty exchanges, and sustained virtual networks. These relationships are designed to continue beyond the project period, ensuring ongoing cross-institutional research, academic exchange, and student support. 

Industry engagement

The consortium actively involves industry stakeholders to ensure that research outcomes address real-world challenges. Through advisory input, collaborative projects, and dissemination of findings to professional audiences, the initiative bridges academia and practice, strengthening the impact of hospitality and tourism scholarship on workforce and community development.  

Student Opportunities

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Faculty Opportunities

Collaborative research

Faculty across Texas A&M and partner institutions will engage in sustained collaborative research that advances hospitality and tourism scholarship. Existing partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence in service innovation, consumer behavior, sustainability, and health-oriented leadership will be expanded, while new collaborations will be fostered through structured consortium activities. These joint projects provide a platform for faculty to exchange expertise, build interdisciplinary networks, and generate high-impact scholarship. 

Interdisciplinary symposiums

The consortium’s annual Interdisciplinary Symposium on Hospitality & Tourism Innovation offers faculty opportunities to present emerging research, pitch new collaborative ideas, and connect with colleagues across institutions. Designed as both a showcase and an incubator, the symposium includes keynote talks, panel discussions, and faculty-led sessions that spark innovative approaches and strengthen cross-institutional partnerships. 

Co-authoring, grant funding, student mentoring

Through the consortium, faculty gain opportunities to co-author peer-reviewed publications, pursue competitive grant proposals, and mentor high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds. The collaborative model provides access to a larger pool of research partners and funding possibilities, while also supporting faculty in preparing the next generation of hospitality and tourism scholars. This integration of research, funding, and mentorship ensures mutual benefit for faculty and students alike.

CCHTE Leaders

Dr. Wen Chang is the Program Coordinator and Dr. Jinyang Deng is the Primary Contact for the program.