Fort Lewis College’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Option ranked as one of the country’s best

The website College Values Online has ranked Fort Lewis College’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Option as one of the best in the country. The option is one of the tracks available to Business Administration majors.

For their list, College Values Online looked at nearly 150 programs from colleges and universities across the country. Their criteria included cost attendance and the 20-year return on the investment students make when they earn a college degree. They released their top 30 picks, and Fort Lewis College was ranked #25.

FLC was the only Colorado school to make the top 30, joining institutions like Utah State University, San Diego State University, Ohio University, and Bowling Green State University. The University of Toledo topped the list.

“Because our program is housed in the School of Business Administration, students at Fort Lewis College also gain a solid background in business fundamentals such as accounting, economics, management, and marketing,” explains Dr. Lorraine Taylor, FLC assistant professor of Management. “This adds to the value of the program because students are better prepared for the real world or even to pursue their own entrepreneurial interests.”

Tourism is a central part of the La Plata County economy. According to Region 9, nearly 1 in 5 jobs in the county is tied to tourism. In dollars and cents, over $165 million in job income is traced back to the tourism industry per year.

“Durango is an ideal place to study tourism and hospitality management because there are so many opportunities for students to engage with local businesses in the industry,” says Dr. Taylor. “The courses encourage projects that partner with local businesses as well as introducing students to industry leaders who support our program as guest speakers and hosts for field trips. Since I started in 2013, we have engaged with a variety of hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and attractions, as well as the Durango Area Tourism Office (DATO) and the airport.”

For more information on FLC’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Option, visit www.fortlewis.edu/business-school.