EIU Hospitality and Tourism

“The courses and staff at Eastern really prepared me for the hospitality industry. The coursework was easy to understand and relatable to the field. I'm currently a Sales Manager at Aloft Hotels and I'm certain that my education from Eastern is the driving factor pushing me through this field.”

“Changing to Hospitality my second year at EIU was one of the best decisions I could have made. I have always had a passion for customer service and I love networking with hospitality professionals. I am lucky to do so with my job as a wedding transportation coordinator. My courses, professors, and internship through this program gave me the knowledge and experience that I continue to carry with me today.”

“The foundation of my career is all thanks to my courses and professors from EIU. From learning the fundamentals of what it means to excel in every facet of Hospitality to the great networking opportunities from the speakers that spoke to our class, it will stay with me for the remainder of my career. The Hospitality industry is surprisingly small, and the classmates I was lucky enough to graduate with are now some of my closest colleagues here in Chicago. The professors give you real life exposure that you cannot just learn from books, and being able to apply that once you’re in the working world gives you an advantage that no other degree can offer.”

“From the invaluable courses to the entire faculty that strives for your success, this program played a major role beyond graduation.  The hospitality program earned me internships with Entertainment Cruises in Chicago and the Disney College Program in Walt Disney World.  This journey has lead me to making magic around the world with the Disney College and International Programs team.”

“The small class sizes and high caliber of teaching gave me all of the skills I needed to successfully enter the Hospitality Industry right out of college. The education I obtained from the Hospitality program at EIU has made it possible for me to flourish in various roles within the industry. I am currently the Corporate General Manager of a multi-million dollar restaurant group that includes Tiny Lounge in Lincoln Square, Tiny Tavern on Navy Pier and Tiny Tapp/ Tiny Cafe on the Chicago Riverwalk.”

“The hands on learning experience with instructors and outside of the box courses in the Hospitality Program at EIU absolutely provided me with the tools I needed to build a successful career in this industry. I’ve been planning conferences in hotels for seven years and have applied the knowledge gained from my education every single day. The beautiful thing about working in the hospitality industry is that each day you learn something new, always interacting with different people. It keeps life fun and interesting!”