Department of Hospitality and Sport Business Management

Hospitality and sport business management are dynamic, global and ever-expanding industries. Our programs cover hospitality operations – hotels, restaurants and events – hospitality business analytics, sport management and healthcare management.
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Becoming a leader in the hospitality industry
In this video, hear from faculty, students and alumni as they talk about how the Hospitality and Sport Business Management program transforms students through hands-on experience. Watch the video
Academic Programs
Undergraduate
- Hospitality and Event Experience Management (B.S.) (HEEM)
- Hospitality Industry Management (B.S.) (HSIM)
- Minor in Restaurant Management
- Sport Management (B.S.) (SPTM)
- Hospitality (HEEM or HSIM) B.S. + MBA Accelerated Degree Program
- Minor in Beverage Management
- Minor in Event Management
- Minor in Sport Management
- Minor in Spa and Wellness Management
Graduate
- Hospitality Business Analytics (Ph.D.)
- Hospitality Business Management (M.S.)
- MBA + M.S. in Hospitality Business Management Dual Degree
- MBA Specialization in Hospitality Business Management
- MBA Specialization in Healthcare Management
Hospitality and Sport Business Management Leadership Advisory Board
Chair: Michele Metrinko-Rollins
Chairman
Rollins Jamaica, Ltd.
Chairman
Rollins Jamaica, Ltd.
Paul Altero ‘96
Co-Founder/CEO
Bubbakoo’s Burritos
Co-Founder/CEO
Bubbakoo’s Burritos
Robert Ashby ’77
President/Owner
Ashby Hospitality Group
President/Owner
Ashby Hospitality Group
Robert Buccini
Co-Founder and Co-President
Buccini/Pollin Group
Co-Founder and Co-President
Buccini/Pollin Group
Mireille Cottle
Vice President of Human Resources
StoneRidge Retirement Living Communities, Inc.
Vice President of Human Resources
StoneRidge Retirement Living Communities, Inc.
Vince DiFonzo, CHA
President
TKo Hospitality
President
TKo Hospitality
Jim Donofrio
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships
NBC Sports
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships
NBC Sports
Scott Ellman ‘07
Director
Eastdil Secured
Director
Eastdil Secured
Lewis Fader
Retired, Past Senior Vice President Operations, Eastern US & Canada
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Retired, Past Senior Vice President Operations, Eastern US & Canada
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Allan Fernandes ’92
Vice President – Global Safety & Risk Control
Aramark
Vice President – Global Safety & Risk Control
Aramark
Michael Gershenfeld
President
Sysco Eastern Maryland, LLC
President
Sysco Eastern Maryland, LLC
Plato Ghinos
President
Shaner Hotel Group
President
Shaner Hotel Group
Robert Gilbert
President and CEO
HSMAI
President and CEO
HSMAI
Robert Grimes
Chairman & CEO
Constrata Tech Consulting
Chairman & CEO
Constrata Tech Consulting
Michael Hartmann
Managing Director
Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality
Managing Director
Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality
Jean Leahy Jakoby
VP Global Sales
Pepsi Co Foodservice
VP Global Sales
Pepsi Co Foodservice
Paula Kelly ’92
General Manager
Merion Golf Club
General Manager
Merion Golf Club
David Lasus ’03
Chief Executive Officer
Heart + Paw
Chief Executive Officer
Heart + Paw
Lisa Murray
Executive Vice President
Chief Marketing Officer, Octagon
Executive Vice President
Chief Marketing Officer, Octagon
Gary Price
Executive Vice President, Operations
Love’s Travel Stops
Executive Vice President, Operations
Love’s Travel Stops
Prashanth Radhakrishnan
Vice President, Customer, Marketing & Digital Analytics
Marriott International
Vice President, Customer, Marketing & Digital Analytics
Marriott International
Xavier Teixido ’03
President
Harry’s Hospitality Group
President
Harry’s Hospitality Group
Gary Trenaman ‘92
Vice President
Fox Sports
Vice President
Fox Sports
News
- American Hotel Lodging Association - Robert Kyle Dutrow, Class of 2025 hospitality business management major, is the president of the American Hotel Lodging Association at Lerner College. Dutrow shared why he joined the American Hotel Lodging Association and what makes this group unique!
- Business Impact of Phillies in the World Series - Lerner College Sport Management professors Matt Robinson and Tim DeSchriver say Phillies playing in the World Series helps local businesses, civic pride.
- Buddy Valastro Gives Out Ingredients to Success - To be successful in business it’s a good idea to learn from people who have actually mastered it. Lerner College students got a chance to talk shop with Buddy Valastro recently.
- My Summer Internship: Jack Ruble - Jack Ruble, class of 2023, sport management major with a minor in professional selling and sales management, spent his summer as a ticket sales intern with the Boston Celtics.
- UD Students Give Championship Effort At National Golf Tournament - Lerner students catered to eager golf fans who flocked to Wilmington to see the top 70 golfers play. Championship golf brought more than 100,000 spectators.