Top Business Schools for Tourism / Hospitality / Leisure 2023

An MBA in Hospitality, Tourism, or Leisure is a popular option for many students, After all, from hotels and casinos to cruise lines and resorts, the hospitality and tourism industries feature a number of highly profitable markets, which are poised to grow.

Perhaps because of this growth, many business schools are offering specialized MBAs in Hospitality, or in other fields such as Tourism, Leisure, and even Gaming. These programs address the unique challenges involved for managers in these fields, with many including classes in topics such as hospitality marketing, service quality management, and real estate management, among others.

Post-MBA careers in hospitality can take many forms, from managing an online travel booking company to marketing a theme park. Since MBA programs in Hospitality or Tourism address some of the emerging aspects of these industries, such as the growing international demand for tourism and e-commerce, graduates can help meet the emerging needs of firms operating in these areas.

Some business schools offer students the opportunity to do a hospitality-related MBA internship with a relevant firm, and students can also pair their MBA with a second, related degree, such as a Master in Hospitality.

Las Vegas, Nevada 5 Followers 6 Discussions

With its casinos and countless hotels, Las Vegas is perhaps the place to be for those looking to break into the hospitality industry. MBA graduates have landed jobs with a range of hospitality companies, including the Intercontinental Hotels Group and MGM Resorts. Students can choose to pair their MBA with a MS in Hotel Administration from the university’s Harrah College of Hotel Administration.

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Singapore, Singapore 61 Followers 130 Discussions
NTU - Nanyang

In 2010, Nanyang launched a partnership with Cornell, and through this the school has been growing their hospitality-related MBA elective offerings. The Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management also offers a one-year Master of Management in Hospitality program as well as a shorter Advanced Management Program in Hospitality.

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Shanghai, China 38 Followers 78 Discussions
CEIBS - Shanghai

In recent years, CEIBS has been building out its MBA offerings in the hospitality space. It currently runs a joint MBA / Master of Hospitality with Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, and, in 2017, announced an EMBA in Hospitality.

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Ithaca, New York 89 Followers 136 Discussions
Cornell - Johnson

While not an MBA per se, Cornell's Master of Management in Hospitality provides a strategic overview of the business of hospitality. MMH grads tend to be snapped up by a wide range of hospitality companies, including the Hilton Worldwide, Ritz-Carlton, and Korean Air. In recent years, Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration continues to extend its reach, through partnerships with school’s like NUS and China’s CEIBS.

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Cergy-Pontoise, France 41 Followers 185 Discussions
ESSEC

Even though ESSEC has recently retired its its MBA in Hospitality Management, the school still offers an MBA concentration in Hospitality Management Recent ESSEC MBA graduates have found themselves working at the Disneyland Resort Paris and in the Four Seasons, among other hospitality companies. The school also offers an MSc in Hospitality Management

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Atlanta, Georgia 18 Followers 27 Discussions
Georgia State - Robinson

MBA students at GSU – Robinson can pursue a concentration in Hotel/Real Estate. Robinson also offers a one-year Master’s in Global Hospitality Management through the school’s Day School of Hospitality Administration.

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Houston, Texas 25 Followers 16 Discussions

Students interested in hospitality can combine Bauer's MBA with an MS in Hospitality Management from Houston's Conrad N. Hilton College. Recruiters typically include a range of hotels, casinos like Harrah's, and cruise lines such as Holland America.

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Tallahassee, Florida 18 Followers 18 Discussions
FSU

Founded in 1947, the school’s Dedman School of Hospitality Management helps prepare students for hospitality careers in Florida and the rest of the world. Beyond the school’s long-standing MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management, it also offers a range of undergraduate programs in golf management and club management. In 2015, FSU began offering its MBA in Hospitality and Tourism in an online format.

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Washington, District of Columbia 37 Followers 64 Discussions

George Washington’s School of Business offers a range of specialized curriculum, including an MBA concentration in tourism, as well as a Master’s Program in Tourism Administration. The school’s International Institute of Tourism Studies publishes relevant research and offer a range of professional certificates.

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East Lansing, Michigan 20 Followers 58 Discussions

The School of Hospitality Business offers an MBA concentration in Hospitality Business and specialized programs like a Master of Science (MSc) in Hospitality Business Management. Broad’s School of Hospitality Business, launched in 1927, provides a offers a range of programs and services for hospitality-minded students.

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