CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The College of Charleston officially debuted its new Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism on Friday.
Named after the owners of Bennett Hospitality, the school will be part of the college’s School of Business. Michael and Amy Bennett announced that the company will be investing in the current hospitality program to create the college’s first named school.
“With Charleston’s long and storied tradition as one of the world’s great hospitality and tourism destinations, there is no better home for a top-tier program studying this dynamic, multibillion-dollar industry,” said College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu.
The college said this will enhance all parts of the existing program, including increasing executive engagement, attracting top-notch faculty and students and providing resources for innovation in an industry that is central to the success of the Holy City.
As of December, more than 250 students are studying hospitality and tourism management at the college. Of those, 148 are hospitality and tourism management majors, and that number has been trending upward each year.
Paul Schwager, dean of the School of Business, has previously said the goal is to have plans finalized in the first quarter of this year, with the school launching in the fall. What the school will look like physically will evolve over the next couple of years as the School of Business gets a new building.
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