In recent years, the University of Delaware’s hospitality department has grown and changed in numerous ways, from the creation of a master of science program to welcoming the sport management major into the department.

To reflect this growth, the department has changed its name, and is now the Department of Hospitality Business Management (HSBM).

“This department name changed to reflect a larger vision for the program,” said hospitality department chair Sheryl Kline. 

The department’s original name, hotel, restaurant and institutional management (HRIM), reflected the name of the department’s first major, which began in 1988.

The department now offers two hospitality-focused undergraduate majors, the sport management major, a master’s program and two MBA concentrations. The second hospitality undergraduate major, hospitality industry management (HSIM), focuses on the corporate and consulting aspects of hospitality management.

“Our students gain jobs in hotels, restaurants, managed services companies, restaurants, event and meeting planning, country clubs and other service-oriented industries,” Kline said. “The new name encompasses all the hospitality majors, and better reflects the career opportunities that are available to our students.”

Kline also discussed the commonalities between hospitality and sport management, and why the two subjects belong in the same department.

“Hospitality and sport management majors both offer a business degree with a difference,” she explained. “Unlike traditional business majors, hospitality and sport management students obtain a business degree that provides a focus on their respective industries. Courses in these majors provide deeper exposure to the concepts and challenges that are part of these complex industries.”

Regardless of major, Kline said, “All HSBM students complete required internships that provide experience driven-learning opportunities, so that students practice and apply what they learn in the classroom in the real world.”

The program currently boasts a 100 percent job placement rate for graduates. College Factual also recently ranked the hospitality business management program No. 2 for highest paid graduates in the hospitality industry, and No. 4 overall.

Further, a recent international ranking published by the Journal of Culinary Science and Technology ranked the program No. 23 in the world for most prolific hospitality research faculty.