The Pillars

DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITAL AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT
Dr. Robert Thompson
Chair
DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY
AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT
MALA Golf Tournament – Oct. 3rd
TEE IT UP in support of HTM! The Mobile Area Lodging
Association (MALA) will host its annual golf tournament on
Thursday, October 3rd at the Timber Creek Golf Club in Daphne,
AL with the proceeds going toward USA HTM scholarships –
MALA $80,000 Endowed Scholarship. The tournament will
be a four-person scramble and a 12 p.m. shotgun start. The
cost is only $400 per team or $110 for an individual golfer. Entry includes golf, lunch, on course
food and beverages, door prizes and an awards dinner. For more information, contact: HTM@
southalabama.edu
Flight Works AL / Airbus
The HTM Department is developing a tour guide program and training manual for Flight Works
Alabama located at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile. Flight Works Alabama, a 15,000 square foot
experience center, will include an interactive exhibit area and serve as the gateway for public tours
of the Airbus A320 Final Assembly Line. The tour guide program will launch for a major industry
conference scheduled for 9/23-9/25/2019 in Mobile, when approximately 600 attendees will tour
the Airbus facility. Ten to twelve HTM students will serve as tour guides for this prestigious event.
Industry/Student Mentoring Program
For anyone navigating their career or just starting out, finding the right mentor can be daunting
and life changing. Mentors provide valuable career advice, share insight with life transitions, and
help open doors to new networks.
Last year, the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) launched the HTM
Industry Mentorship Program to connect USA HTM students with industry leaders in hospitality and
tourism. The Industry Mentor Program provides HTM students with the opportunity to learn from
experienced professionals working in the industry outside of the workplace, and is designed for
these students to further develop their professional skills, network and increase their awareness of
career opportunities. Currently, forty-two hospitality and tourism leaders from all industry sectors
are participating in the mentoring program.
Culture and Cuisine Education – 2019 Study Abroad
This past summer, six HTM students participated in the HTM Study Abroad Program to Greece.
The students were based in Athens, Greece; however, they also visited other European destinations.
Plans for next year’s study abroad trip are already underway with talk of possibly going to Bali,
Indonesia. Are you interested, and want to learn more? If so, contact: Ms. Amanda Donaldson,
HTM Instructor