MS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
The Business Behind
The Experience
Build the Skills to Lead Across the Global Tourism, Hospitality & Event Industries
Behind every thriving destination, world-class event and memorable guest experience are business leaders who understand how to bring it all together. GW’s Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (MSTHEM) combines business school rigor with specialized expertise in the global visitor economy, from destination marketing and event strategy to revenue management, sustainability and tourism policy.
The program and its location in Washington, D.C. provides direct access to industry leaders. Through hands-on learning in the nation’s capital and abroad, students tackle real-world challenges while developing the analytical, strategic and leadership skills to shape what’s next for tourism, hospitality and events.
Discover the GW Advantage
From Business Fundamentals to Industry Expertise
Build a strong business foundation while developing specialized expertise in tourism, hospitality and events. Explore strategy, analytics, revenue management, marketing and operations alongside emerging issues shaping the visitor economy, including sustainability, technology, cultural heritage conservation and changing consumer expectations. Work on consulting projects with destination organizations and build financial models using live market data. The result is a business education grounded in the realities of a global, fast-changing industry.
Washington, D.C. Campus: Where You Learn Matters
Study in the heart of one of the world’s most influential tourism and business hubs. Washington, D.C., puts you steps from hotels, tourism organizations, international institutions, policymakers and industry leaders. Visit leading properties and corporate headquarters, including Marriott International and Hilton, attend major industry events and conferences, and gain experience through internships, externships and other opportunities to learn from professionals shaping tourism, hospitality and events in D.C. and around the world.
The Only U.S. Program Certified by UN Tourism
Not only is GW's MSTHEM program the only one of its kind in Washington, D.C., it's also the only one in the United States certified by UN Tourism TedQual, the United Nations' global benchmark for excellence in tourism education. Combined with GW Business’s AACSB accreditation, the program brings together internationally recognized standards in both business and tourism education.
Related Graduate Certificates: Build Specialized Expertise
Tailor your degree to your professional goals by adding a graduate certificate that builds specialized expertise alongside your core business education.
- Graduate Certificate in Sport Management
This 12-credit certificate prepares students to obtain a comprehensive understanding of sports marketing, media, legal issues, and facility management. Students explore how sports organizations operate at the professional, collegiate, and community levels. The certification prepares students for careers in sports administration, event planning, athletic operations, and related areas.
Career Success Backed by a Global Alumni Network
For more than 50 years, GW's Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management program has prepared leaders who are shaping one of the world's largest industries. Today, approximately 2,000 alumni are making an impact across six continents—leading destinations, managing global hospitality brands, driving tourism strategy, producing major events and influencing policy at every level. MSTHEM graduates typically enter at the management and director level, in a field where career trajectories are global, roles are diverse and the GW network opens doors that are otherwise hard to reach.
With a GW Business global alumni network of more than 60,000 professionals spanning Fortune 500 companies, startups, nonprofits, and organizations across six continents, plus dedicated career support resources, you’ll gain access to mentorship, connections, and career opportunities that open doors and accelerate your impact.
Here are just some of the 260+ organizations where GW Business alumni are advancing their exciting careers:
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you aspire to manage world-class sporting events or a luxury hotel brand, influence tourism policy or lead a destination marketing organization, GW will prepare you to lead with business expertise, global perspective and purpose. You'll graduate ready to shape a rapidly evolving industry that connects people, places and cultures around the world.
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