New Hospitality Minor Launched To Meet Rising Visitor Growth

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (November 11, 2024)—Louisville Tourism and the University of Louisville are excited to announce the launch of a new hospitality minor program, designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the dynamic field of tourism and hospitality. This program is a collaborative effort between Louisville Tourism, the University of Louisville, and the Louisville Hotel Partnership.

The economic impact of the Tourism Industry in Louisville is $4.2 billion annually, with nearly 70,000 people in the Louisville area working in the vibrant industry. As visitor demand and the city’s tourism infrastructure increase, the workforce must grow proportionately to meet guest expectations.

"Collaborating with the University of Louisville marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance the hospitality industry in Louisville. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to provide students with hands-on experience and practical insights into the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, preparing them for successful careers. In turn, this initiative will also benefit our community by fostering a well-trained workforce, in a sector that continues to grow locally." Cleo Battle, President & CEO of Louisville Tourism.

Including the Louisville Hotel Partnership (LHP) in this initiative is key to receiving resources and support to ensure the program's relevancy and success. The mission of the LHP is to promote economic growth and improve lodging properties through tourism. LHP provided $500,000 to UofL to help fund the development of the new minor.

“We are proud to support this innovative collaboration, which will strengthen both the hospitality sector and student opportunities. The hospitality minor will create a robust pipeline and deeper talent pool which is crucial to growing Louisville’s hotel industry workforce while equipping students with lifelong skill sets that will make them more marketable upon graduation,” said Eamon O’Brien, Louisville Hotel Partnership Board Chair and General Manager of the Omni Louisville Hotel.

The hospitality minor program is open to students from all majors and will be housed within the College of Business at the University of Louisville. The program's curriculum includes courses on event management, hospitality operations, revenue management, sales and tourism marketing, among others and will offer invaluable experiential learning opportunities facilitated by industry partners.

“This partnership reflects UofL’s commitment to fostering industry-relevant education and ensuring our graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the rapidly growing hospitality sector,” said Ryan Quinn, chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at UofL, which will oversee the new program.

For more information about the new hospitality minor program, please contact: Ryan Quinn at ryan.quinn@louisville.edu.