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Tourism

Alpha College of Business & Technology Campus | Program Code: 0979 | Open for International Students
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Overview

Alpha College of Business and Technology connects international students seeking a quality post-secondary education with one of the leading colleges in Ontario. The Academy is affiliated with St. Lawrence College, who provides oversight over all curriculum, faculty, and operational quality for college-level programs delivered at Alpha’s Toronto campus. Students can learn how to apply through Alpha at: https://alphacollege.ca/how-to-pay-my-fees/ and are considered enrolled at St. Lawrence College once admitted. Graduates receive a St. Lawrence College diploma or graduate certificate, depending on their course of study.

Programs offer flexible intakes, with classes beginning in January, May, or September. Lessons are designed to combine theory with practical experience, and studying at Alpha provides a metropolitan experience to international students. In addition to easy access to highly qualified faculty and dedicated staff, small class sizes ensure a supportive and social community for all students.

Additional benefits include studying in a city and environment that is rich with cultural diversity, multiple job options upon graduation, and access to the wealth of conveniences and culture that Toronto has to offer. Alpha also offers flexible instruction hours and affordable tuition fees with convenient payment options to cater to student’s financial needs.

Program Details

Code 0979
Start Date May, January, September
Credential Ontario College Diploma
Campus Alpha College of Business & Technology
Program Length 4 Consecutive Semesters
Delivery Full-Time
Open for international students

Program Highlights

This program will provide you with the opportunity to excel in the vibrant, rewarding and highly mobile tourism industry. The skills you acquire in this program reflect employer needs and will help ensure that you are ready for the work environment. Art and cultural tourism, hospitality and tourism law, sport tourism, special events planning and management, eco and adventure tourism, and historical tourism are but a few of the many subject areas that you will explore.

Program Outline

2023-2024

In this course students acquire business writing skills for future career success.Through an examination of real-world communication pertaining to the hospitalityand tourism industries students learn how to prepare effective business reports,electronic messaging, and digital media, and deliver professional presentationsusing research basics and proper citation techniques.
This course introduces you to marketing with an international focus. Throughlectures, case studies, class discussions and individual study you experience abroad view of marketing within the hospitality and tourism industries. This courseemphasizes the importance of creating a solid foundation on which to apply thefundamental concepts and principles of marketing in current, real-world situations.

This course emphasizes the importance of providing consistent, high quality customer service as a platform on which all successful businesses build brand loyalty, market share and client retention. In this course, you will acquire skills to integrate effective customer service and quality assurance practices into the hospitality and tourism workplace in your future role as managers. Discussion, role-playing, and case studies will facilitate your acquisition of the essential tools and practices required to grow a satisfied and loyal customer base for any hospitality and tourism business.

This course introduces students to the Tourism Industry as a whole. Throughlectures, group discussions, guest speakers, and individual research, basic concepts of travel will be outlined and the various sectors of tourism will be explored. The course will also examine the issues, challenges and the future of tourism in Canada. In addition, the various sectors of tourism in Canada will be paralleled with geographical destinations outside of Canada.

This course is designed to introduce you to the fundamental principles of accounting for the hospitality and tourism industries. Students learn about the types of businesses and how they are formed. Students will learn the components of the accounting cycle, the bookkeeping process, and the preparation and use of various financial reporting tools. Practical methods for budgeting, forecasting, and business performance analysis are also introduced, explored, and applied using case studies.

In this course, students will examine and analyze various food and beverage management strategies using the menu as the foundation for management decisions. Students will develop skills in food and beverage purchasing; cost analysis; inventory controls; truthful menu design; menu pricing; sales forecasting; and, marketing. Students will also explore the fundamentals of nutrition emphasizing the importance of offering nutritionally balanced food and beverages that reflect current market trends.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE60 (HOTE30 for Tourism)

Selling is an important component in the hospitality and tourism industry. This course develops student’s persuasive communication skills, builds self-confidence in making presentations and provides a sound grounding in the field of professional selling. In-class role playing, video submission and live 1:1 individual sales presentations provides students opportunities to practice and apply professional selling techniques.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE21 AND/ OR HOTE10

Students explore two key components of business practices: ethics and principled negotiations. Students participate in simulated negotiation scenarios to apply principles of ethical behavior and their impact on successful business relationships. Ethical theories, current events, case studies, and role-play are used to reinforce the concepts presented.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE60 (HOTE 30 in Tourism)

This course provides students with the essential information that managers need to comply with the body of law that is applicable to operations within the hospitality and tourism industries. Through case study analysis, examination of industry best practices, and in-class discussions students examine actual examples that apply to various aspects of the law as it pertains to the hospitality and tourism industries. Specific attention is paid to the rights, obligations and the liabilities of employees, managers operation owners.
In this course, you will use a hands-on approach to learn basic Window Office applications in a lab setting. It will include an introduction to the Windows operating system and the effective use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The key to the success of any hospitality and tourism business is the management of its greatest asset, its people. An organization's performance can depend on the employees obtained through recruitment and selection and maintained and retained through orientation, training, motivation and development. Students explore the key employment issues in the hospitality and tourism industry through case studies and assignments which demonstrate the direct correlation between the use of sound human resource management practices and positive financial results.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE60 (HOTE30 for Tourism)

This course introduces the student to the administrative and procedural aspects of front office management in a commercial lodging property. Hotel organization, front office operations, reservations, registration, front office accounting, night audit, settlement, managing front office employees, planning and evaluating front office operations are examined. The accommodation sector of the Canadian tourism industry also recognizes the importance, necessity and marketability of “green” hotels, motels and resorts. This course will also focus on enabling the learner to plan and develop accommodation facilities that are environmentally friendly through the implementation of effective initiatives and programs to reduce energy, water, and waste. Students will also examine and explore the merits, costs and benefits associated with membership in the industry programs such as The Green Key Eco-Rating program, The Green Leaf rating system, The Green Seal Standard for Lodging Properties and Green Globe certification. Case studies will examine accommodation properties that qualify as industry leaders in this market segment.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE60 (HOTE 30 for Tourism) + HOTE56

Co-requisite(s): HOTE31

This course introduces students to the concepts involved in the planning of events. Students are assigned to an actual event where in their capacity as a member of the event team they will be involved in the planning and delivery of a quality event. Recognized best practices in event management are reinforced throughout the course and the broader elements of events such as conferences, festivals, meetings, and sporting events are explored.

Casino gaming is an integral component of the multi-billion dollar entertainment, gaming and tourism industry. This course introduces students to the business of Casino operations. Topics include the gaming environment and how it relates to the support function of the operation, sales and marketing, accounting, security and human resource management. This course examines the economic and sociological impact of gaming operations within a community with a particular focus on Responsible Gaming, government legislation, and official financial reporting systems.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE30

Geographical Destinations is the study of people, places and environments from both a cultural and physical perspective. The course focuses on established and emerging destinations that are important to the tourism industry. Mapping identification exercises, independent research, and lectures are utilized throughout to provide students with a practical knowledge of worldwide destinations and how their fit within the global tourism industry.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE30

Due to the global economy and increasingly diverse workplaces, the ability to communicate successfully across cultures is an essential skill and a critical factor for success as a manager. This course examines the intrinsic relationship between cultural diversity and communications, and how understanding and respecting cultural differences is key to improving effective communications. Through lectures, case studies, group discussions and in-class exercises, students explore and develop strategies to help them communicate competently in culturally diverse communities and workplaces.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE30 + COMM18

This course provides students with a solid foundation in the concept and promotion of culinary tourism. During lectures, case studies and class discussions you acquire the essential skills required for managing this industry sector's current issues and challenges. Students examine the factors affecting culinary tourism's popularity, profitability and sustainability as it evolves from niche market to mainstream status.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE30 + HOTE66

This course examines the trends associated with various structures and segments within community tourism development. The planning, management, marketing, partnerships, sustainability of community tourism development initiatives are explored. Local, regional, provincial, national, and international tourism development organizations are contrasted and evaluated through current market trends and research. Students acquire the tools to develop and assess Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs).

Prerequisite(s): HOTE13 + HOTE30

This course provides students with a foundation in the concept of adventure tourism and ecotourism. Students appraise industry standard operational practices that, through environmental awareness, are ethical, sustainable and non-consumptive. Through case studies, class discussion and field trips students investigate the planning and management of nature based tourism activities that balance profitability with modern conservation techniques.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE30

This course introduces students to the phenomenon of sport tourism the highly lucrative and fastest growing segment of the tourism industry. Students learn to define sport tourism, and to identify and differentiate between participatory sport tourism and event-based sport tourism. The historical development of sport tourism and business practices that illustrate the symbiotic relationship between sport and tourism will also be introduced. Sport tourism operations will be examined and evaluated through industry examples and thought-provoking questions and discussion.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE30

This course introduces students to the varied components of tour operations. An emphasis on the financial, logistic, marketing, and customer service elements of tour packing will be examined. Through lectures, group discussions, practical exercises and independent research students will develop a multi-day tour from design to promotion incorporating best practices in the industry and necessary steps for successful execution.

Prerequisite(s); HOTE30

This course introduces students to the segments of, and differences in, Heritage, Arts and Culture Tourism. Students explore in detail the economic and social benefits of a rich and vibrant heritage, arts and culture segment to Canada and recognize its importance to tourism and to the quality of life in our communities. Through lectures, classroom discussions, case studies, independent and group activities, students develop skills to plan heritage, arts and cultural experiences targeted to key visitor groups and attract funding opportunities.

Prerequisite(s): HOTE10 + HOTE30

This is a course designed to help students adapt to the rapidly changing workplace. It provides an historical overview of our working society and how it has evolved. Issues such as employment equity, harassment, regulation of health and safety, unionization, professional organizations and codes of ethics are discussed. Students also identify strategies to meet the needs of current employers and to make interview processes work to their advantage.

Requirements

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) equivalent, including the following prerequisites:

  • Grade 12 English
  • Grade 11 Math (or equivalent)

Equivalent of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits), or mature student status. Graduates of a system based on the British model will need a General Certificate of Education with no less than “D” or “4” in five academic subjects.

If you enter St. Lawrence College with credits from other post-secondary institutions you may be eligible for advanced credit. Under a Prior Learning Assessment Review (PLAR), students may also be granted course equivalency if they have worked extensively in a particular field.

Applicants must submit transcripts verifying previous academic qualifications and experience from recognized institutions. All documentation must be submitted in English.

Applicants must be fluent enough in English to understand the instructors and technical language used during each course. An acceptable score on an English proficiency test is required to be considered for admission:

TOEFL – A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test
IELTS – Required score of 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each section
CAEL – Overall score of 60 is required for admission

Fees

2023-2024

Fees are estimates only.  Tuition is based on two semesters.

Tuition fees are subject to change pending confirmation of provincial Ministry Funding rates for 2023-2024.

Alpha College of Business & Technology

Career Opportunities

Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world. In Canada alone, tourism employs over 1.4 million people. You may be seeking a dynamic career with a luxury resort in an exotic location or perhaps you prefer the challenges of a high power conference centre in a large urban hub. Regardless, this program strives to prepare graduates for business careers in:

  • Casinos
  • Historical Tourism Attractions
  • Cruise Lines
  • Festival and Special Events Operations
  • Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Development
  • Sales & Marketing of Community Tourism
  • Conference Planning
  • Event Planning
  • Sport Tourism Operations

Program Contacts

Program Contact
Alpha International
admissions@slc-alpha.ca

Admissions Information
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