Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism

This course provides a comprehensive survey of entry-level management concepts, theories, and principles, with a focus on the job responsibilities of managers and the role they play in planning, organizing, leading, and motivating teams, as well as controlling organizations. Career and educational pathways include retail, hospitality, tourism, and family and consumer sciences. There are no prerequisites required.

We project that 100 students will earn a certificate each year.

The Travel, Hospitality, and Tourism Career Pathway Project at East Los Angeles College (ELAC) strategically addresses significant industry and community needs by developing a structured educational pathway to enhance career readiness within one of the region's fastest-growing sectors. Given Los Angeles's prominence as a global cultural and business destination, the hospitality, event planning, and tourism sectors have experienced considerable growth, resulting in heightened workforce demand. Despite this growth, a significant skills gap remains, particularly among underrepresented and special populations in the local community.

The rationale for this initiative is informed by comprehensive community feedback and robust regional labor market data, both of which underscore the necessity for targeted, high-quality training and education in hospitality and tourism. ELAC's mission strongly emphasizes equity, community service, and responsiveness to local employment trends. This project directly aligns with these institutional objectives by offering a flexible 16-unit Certificate of Achievement and a comprehensive Associate of Arts degree. Such structured, accessible credentials enhance employability and provide equitable educational pathways for diverse populations who traditionally encounter barriers to higher education.

The proposed curriculum emphasizes practical, hands-on, experiential learning, internships, and active industry partnerships, uniquely preparing students with real-world skills. This approach effectively addresses educational and economic disparities by improving graduates' employment prospects and potential earnings. Leveraging existing campus resources and established community partnerships, the program represents a sustainable, industry-aligned educational model that meets both institutional goals and community workforce needs.

The courses support the program's goals by equipping students with foundational knowledge and practical skills essential for entry-level roles in the hospitality and tourism industry. Courses such as Introduction to the Hospitality Industry and Tourism Industry Management align to help students understand the core operations of these industries. Meanwhile, Job Retention and Responsibility, as well as Elements of Supervision, emphasize workplace professionalism and leadership development. The inclusion of Event Management and Introduction to Business further broadens students' business acumen, enhancing their overall career readiness across various sectors of the hospitality industry.

What related programs are there in the college?  The college is offering a 9-unit skills certificate, and the new Certificate of Completion is considered a stackable certificate.

Will this new program fulfill a need that existing programs do not? The new certificate will provide additional job opportunities for our students, as they are taking more courses in the Hospitality sector.

Will there be courses in common between this program and an existing program?  Yes, the three courses for the 9-unit certificate are required for the new Certificate of Completion, plus the additional 7-unit course.

What enrollment changes will this program create?  Will it accommodate an overflow or provide for a different type of student?  Will students wish to, or be able to, move between the programs? The enrollment process will remain the same; however, we are creating a pathway that allows students to enroll in classes on time and complete this new certificate in two semesters.

Will programs share resources?   Yes, resources can be shared, such as the classroom, college facilities, and student resources.

Several colleges within commuting distance offer hospitality, travel, and tourism programs. Institutions such as Pasadena City College, Rio Hondo College, and LA Pierce College provide educational pathways in these fields, highlighting significant regional interest and enrollment demand. However, the proposed Travel, Hospitality, and Tourism Career Pathway at East Los Angeles College (ELAC) emphasizes unique program components that set it apart from existing offerings.

ELAC's program targets underrepresented and special populations, ensuring equitable access and community-focused career readiness. The structured 16-unit Certificate of Completion and comprehensive Associate of Arts degree incorporate the latest industry standards, integrating direct industry feedback from regional advisory boards to align closely with current workforce demands. Additionally, the proposed curriculum emphasizes supervisory roles in hospitality and event planning, addressing a clearly defined skills gap identified through regional labor market data and direct community input.

Communication and collaboration among colleges have been facilitated through ongoing regional stakeholders' meetings, as detailed in the recent LA RHT+ Stakeholders Meeting documentation. Advisory boards combining efforts across multiple colleges indicate active collaboration, ensuring complementary rather than competitive program development. This proactive collaboration demonstrates that ELAC's proposed program will effectively meet regional workforce needs without duplicating existing resources.

We are projecting 200 students to enroll in the required courses.

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