Hospitality and Tourism Management Co-op Student Information
About The Program
The School of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management, Bachelor of Commerce degree program, was established in 1969 in order to provide a business program that would meet the needs of the hospitality industry. The Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) major allows you to combine business and management courses, being exposed to the latest principles and practices of either hotel operations, foodservice management, or tourism policy, planning and development, along with the flexibility of additional elective courses for students with specific interests. Guelph continues to offer Canada’s pre-eminent program in hospitality management.
Why Co-op?
As a co-op student, you will gain relevant work experience, build professional networks and develop essential interpersonal skills needed to succeed in the workplace, all while getting paid and earning your university degree. Guelph’s co-op program is unique due to the exceptional level of support provided, including an in-class preparatory course, a personal connection with a Co-op Coordinator to assist you during the employment process, and access to senior student mentors.
Course Sequencing
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Academic | Work |
| THREE | Work | Work | Off |
| FOUR | Academic | Academic | Off |
| FIVE | Academic | Academic |
Acquired Knowledge & Skills
Knowledge
Excellent grounding in hospitality subject areas such as purchasing, control systems, and lodging operations.
Communication
Strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as multi-tasking and data analysis abilities.
Engagement
Appreciation of the fundamental importance of customer relations and its relationship to profitability.
Collaboration
Leadership experience and the ability to work as a team player.
Sample Jobs
Hotel & Resort Operations Trainee
In this position, you will get the exciting opportunity to work in a variety of hotel or resort departments, such as Sales & Marketing, Guest Services, Accounting, Housekeeping, and more. Through this diverse work experience, you will be exposed to many different aspects of operations, such as franchise relationships, marketing initiatives, reservations, account management, information technology and more, to gain valuable insight into the scope of hotel & resort management.
Food & Beverage Operations Trainee
In this role, you will gain hands on experience in many aspects of food & beverage operations, such as hosting, serving and bartending. Upon rotating through all types of jobs, you may be given the opportunity to lead shifts and supervise, based on performance. Supervisory duties may include assisting with recruitment, performance management, inventory, scheduling, and more. In all roles, you will create positive guest experiences and demonstrate your ability to maintain quality and meet standards in a fast-paced environment.
Management Trainee
During the course of your co-op work terms, you will evolve from a co-op student into a manager, through an extensive Manager-in-Training program at a well-known restaurant chain. In this program, you will be trained in each area of the restaurant and work side-by-side with experienced team members and managers. The focus will be on developing the restaurant unit in terms of training, accountability and profitability of specific areas, and assisting with restaurant back-end such as payroll, inventory management and shipping/receiving. and more.
Sample Employers*
- Marriott Hotels & Resorts
- Deerhurst Resort
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
- Four Seasons Resort Whistler
- Pan Pacific Whistler Hotels
- Kananaskis Mountain Lodge
- Coast Hotels & Resorts
*This shows a sample of recent co-op employers and will vary depending on employer recruitment needs. During a job search, students are encouraged to be actively engaged and are supported in establishing and maintaining their own personal contacts.
Salary Information
Students receive compensation from their employer for co-op work terms. The rate of pay will vary depending on a number of factors including the industry, the student’s program of study, and work term level. For your reference, a Co-operative Education Salary Guide is available on our website, which provides hourly rates (averages and ranges) for each degree program.
