MSc in Tourism Management
UPGRADE TO BUSINESS CLASS
Duration:
Full Time (12m) & Part Time (24m)/Evening classes
Application Deadline:
Rolling admissions | Upcoming deadline : January 31, 2020
Start Date:
October 2020
Fees:
€ 12,500
OVERVIEW
This program meets the growing needs of the tourism industry to shape high skilled and knowledgeable professionals, so that they can assume leading roles in the management of tourism organizations. The program blends the requisite specialist operational knowledge and skills, with advanced managerial competencies, in order to educate the new generation of tourism executives. It emphasizes the cross-cultural, moral, ethical, institutional and environmental issues in the management of tourism organizations, while covering all specialized business and operational skills. The strategic partnership with Costa Navarino and a series of events in collaboration with key tourism players throughout the program, as well as a well-organized internship process strongly support the development of a professional network and increase considerably the employability of students upon graduation.
Why Tourism?
The tourism sector fuels growth and job creation around the world, at sustained pace, according to the World Tourism Organization:
- Represents approximately 9% of the global economy.
- Has created approximately 69 million new jobs in the past 10 years.
The Greek tourism industry is one of the most dynamic fields of employment in the country, according to SETE, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises:
- Represents 17.3% of the country’s GDP.
- Supports 18.3% of total domestic employment, directly employing nearly 700.000 people across all skill levels.
Key features of the program
- Weekday classes between 18:00 – 22:00, twice a week on average for part-time mode.
- A 12-month program (24-month program for part-time mode).
- 14 core modules and 2 workshops
- Assessment: group reports/presentations, case study analysis, mid-term tests, final exams
- Dissertation or Internship (in Greece or abroad)
The MSc in Tourism Management is designed for:
- Entrepreneurs in tourism business.
- Members of family tourism business.
- Young professionals in hospitality, tour operators, tour guides, travel agencies (air, land and sea), event and conference organizers, cruise makers, leisure and entertainment organizers, real estate developers.
Current Student Profile
HIGHLIGHTS
International Recognition: Accredited by the The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
The quality and academic standing of its faculty, both resident and visiting.
Academic rigor with practical know-how: Academic courses are combined with specialized workshops by leading industry experts, tailored to address realistic technological and management challenges in travel, destination, tour guide, event, conference, leisure and entertainment management.
Strategic Partnership with Costa Navarino: Specialized workshops by Costa Navarino professionals, tailored to address challenges in hospitality and destination management. Three-day visit at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, located at the first resort area in Costa Navarino. Costa Navarino is the prime, sustainable destination in Messinia, southwest Peloponnese, encompassing luxury resort hotels, high-end residences, a new golf destination, spa, sports & leisure facilities, as well as authentic cultural experiences.
Internship: Opportunity to spend three months at the heart of the tourism season at a number of tourism organizations. Internship at Costa Navarino offers c.v. inclusion into a global employment database and access to the most exciting online and classroom training programs.
Ideal location: The program is offered in Greece, a country with a long-lasting tradition in tourism. Part of the program will be offered on the Alba campus at the heart of Athens.
Links to the industry: Students will benefit from the close links between Alba and the Greek tourism community.
Member of
Winner of
FULL TIME
MSc in Tourism Program FT Total Year Schedule 2019 -2020
Note: In the context of the Introduction to Tourism Management course, a mandatory 3-day visit is included to Costa Navarino Resort. The total cost of the visit is approximately 300 euros
1st Period | October – November
Courses
Hours | Credits
Managing People in Tourism and Hospitality
28 | 2
Managing People in Tourism and Hospitality
28 | 2
This course covers motivation, involvement, team work, leadership, emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and change management in Tourism Organizations. Each session integrates classical and modern concepts, building on key theories with a rich array of contemporary real-world examples and cases from the Tourism sector.
Business Writing & Presentation Skills
14 | 1
Business Writing & Presentation Skills
14 | 1
This introductory course outlines the main principles of writing and presenting academic and business assignments. A series of activities are used to develop, extend and enhance analytical and synthetical writing and presentation skills. The course explains the importance of knowing one’s audience, purpose and subject of written assignment or presentation. The sequence of stages and steps in the process of writing and presenting effectively is analysed. Preparing and delivering techniques are discussed.
Introduction to Tourism Management
28 | 2
Introduction to Tourism Management
28 | 2
This course analyses the nature, structure and scope of the tourism and hospitality industry, and discusses how broader business environment influences and trends affect the management of tourism and hospitality organisations in key sectors, such as accommodation, transportation, tour operating, visitor attractions, etc. Focusing on the particularities of tourism as a product and the distinctive characteristics of tourism demand and supply, the course introduces key considerations, challenges and current practices in decision-making in contemporary tourism and hospitality management. The course is complemented with a three-day visit to Costa Navarino, during which students have the opportunity to gain practical knowledge on several aspects of hospitality management.
2nd Period | November – December
Courses
Hours | Credits
Managing Service Operations
28 | 2
Managing Service Operations
28 | 2
This course focuses on the unique aspects involved in the design and delivery of service operations. In Tourism and Hospitality the objective is to introduce students to the basic issues and main challenges that most successful service operations face today. Students completing this course will acquire the tools to identify and apply appropriate management processes to ensure efficient, effective and quality oriented service operations.
Marketing Management for Tourism
14 | 1
Marketing Management for Tourism
14 | 1
This course is designed to provide students with a good command of the key elements of marketing management across tourism organizations. During this course students will be encouraged to develop an analytical perspective and a critical understanding of the marketing concepts, models, and tools as they are applied across tourism organizations. Through case studies and contemporary examples from the tourism industry, the practical relevance of marketing theories for tourism managers will be highlighted and students will be expected to apply the theoretical concepts discussed onto real-life marketing examples from the tourism industry.
Business Decisions with Data Models
28 | 2
Business Decisions with Data Models
28 | 2
This course aims to enhance business problem modelling and solving skills by integrating concepts and frameworks from Statistics and Decision Science with modern Information Technology. Emphasis is placed on evaluating risks and using the theory of normative decision making to compare decision alternatives under uncertainty. Participants will learn how to structure complex management problems and combine quantitative analysis with judgment and critical thinking. Topics covered include forecasting, decision analysis, Monte-Carlo simulation and business optimization. It is a practical course that uses case studies and spreadsheets to illustrate how to apply the methodologies introduced.
3rd Period | January – February
Courses
Hours | Credits
Digital Communication and Channel Management
28 | 2
Digital Communication and Channel Management
28 | 2
The aim of the course is to provide a comprehensive understanding about Digital Marketing concepts, strategies, and implementation in tourism sector. Starting with the development of the digital strategy for tourism businesses and progressing into more complex issues such as the use and implementation of conventional and alternative media such as social media tools (eg, TripAdvisor, Facebook, etc). With particular emphasis on the increased demands of the tourism market, the course design is clearly oriented to the presentation of best practices from international and Greek tourism entrepreneurship. Thus, through the combination of theory and applied examples of the tools to be presented, the participants will get a solid picture of the actions required for the effective digital presence of tourism organizations
Finance and Cost Accounting
28 | 2
Finance and Cost Accounting
28 | 2
This course facilitates the understanding and subsequent use of financial information for decision-making in the tourism sector. It addresses of two main perspectives, each one representing different stakeholders, who use financial information for decision making. In particular, the first part of the course aims to provide the knowledge and skills required for the understanding and use of financial accounting information for decision-making. Some of the topics covered during the course include: the meaning and role of accounting, branches of accounting, and users of accounting information, the accounting cycle, and the financial statements, the effects of the use of different accounting methods, estimates and choices on the financial statements and the subsequent impact on decision making, ways of analyzing, interpreting and evaluating financial statements.
4th Period | February – March
Courses
Hours | Credits
Revenue Management
28 | 2
Revenue Management
28 | 2
This course is an introduction to the theory, principles and practices of revenue management (RM) and how these can be particularly applied to the growing tourism industry. More specifically the course focuses on the application and evaluation of revenue management strategies and is intended for individuals with a specific interest in the tourism industry.
Purchasing and Supply Management
28 | 2
Purchasing and Supply Management
28 | 2
The course covers supply chain coordination, supplier selection, purchasing methodologies and contracting, material forecasting and safety stock, and design of services for supply chain efficiency. It also focuses on the best practices that lead to efficient, effective, and customer-responsive SCM processes that transform ideas into high quality services, delivered at competitive prices while simultaneously providing superior financial returns within environmental, ethical, and legal constraints.
5th Period | April – May
Courses
Hours | Credits
Strategy in Tourism
21 | 1.5
Strategy in Tourism
21 | 1.5
The course provides an integrative framework for the whole program. It will explain basic planning principles of business strategy and the process through which strategic decisions are made in tourism organizations at both destination and organizational level. Students will become familiar with key strategy elements, such as how tourism organizations select the market, product, and areas in which they compete, how they position themselves in these areas, how they interact with their external environments, how they adjust to changes, and how they decide and implement structure and policies that enable them to achieve their overall goals. The role of the HR professionals in the process of corporate strategy formulation and implementation will also be outlined.
Sustainability in Tourism
14 | 1
Sustainability in Tourism
14 | 1
The course offers a comprehensive introduction to, but also fosters critical engagement with, the concept of sustainable development and its application in the tourism and hospitality industry - both from a policy/development viewpoint and in relation to management approaches to applying sustainability principles. This will be followed by a 7-hour hands-on workshop delivered at the premises of Costa Navarino by specialized trainers.
Entrepreneurship in Tourism
21 | 1.5
Entrepreneurship in Tourism
21 | 1.5
Nowadays, many millennials dream of becoming entrepreneurs. They often have specific entrepreneurial role models and dream of becoming millionaires before age 35.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are important drivers for success in any service industry. The tourism industry, or rather the sectors that make up the tourism industry, require specific skills and approaches. This module deals with the key issues of entrepreneurship, product and service development, innovation and creativity in two specific sectors of the tourism industry: the hospitality and F&B sectors. It challenges students to think outside the box in terms of how to develop new business/product ideas in a service industry, difficult to virtualize in its entirety.
6th Period | May –August
Courses
Hours | Credits
Career Development Tourism
56 | 4
Career Development Tourism
56 | 4
This course brings together the academic with the business world, providing a unique opportunity to students to advance their career and professional development in the tourism industry. It has the status of a course, hence it carries credits and it is graded. The benefits for students include the opportunity for: the blending of academic and on-the-job learning; the integration of academic knowledge with practical experience; the development of relevant skills and understanding of diverse operations; the identification and/or refinement of career goals; strengthening employability skills. Career development may take the form of an internship in a tourism organization for those students who are currently not working or the form of professional development for those students who work in a tourism organization.
Internship: The expected duration is three (3) months, between May and September. The benefits for students include the opportunity for the blending of academic and on-the-job learning; the use of the explicit knowledge gained during the program, the attainment of tacit knowledge, the development and diversification of skills, the acquisition of work experience, the identification and/or refinement of career goals, the creation and/or development of a professional network. The benefits for companies include the opportunity to meet some company needs with highly qualified and motivated students, the identification of talent for potential future employment, the enrichment of current perspectives and practices with the intern’s novel ideas, the enhancement of social responsibility activities. Professional development: The opportunity is given to students to reflect on their work practices and experiences and apply the academic knowledge acquired through the program on a real tourism organization. A reflective report needs to be produced, which represents the culmination of the program’s intensive learning. Students are expected to test what they have learned in class in a real setting, identify areas for professional development, set career goals and generate a concrete action plan.
Dissertation
56 | 4
Dissertation
56 | 4
The Dissertation is a research project of a student’s special interest in a faculty member’s area of expertise. The students will have the opportunity to construct a detailed plan of a research project; to review specific literature on the selected topic; to identify relevant research questions from the literature; to be able to turn general research questions into empirical ones; to select and justify an appropriate research design; to select and employ suitable methods or techniques to investigate the empirical questions; to analyze financial or social data and to write a report covering a review of the relevant literature, the research questions, an explanation and justification of the design, a description of the conduct and analysis of the research, and a discussion of the findings in relation to the literature and methodological issues.
PART TIME
MSc in Tourism Program PT Total Year Schedule 2019 - 2021
Note: In the context of the Introduction to Tourism Management course, a mandatory 3-day visit is included to Costa Navarino Resort. The total cost of the visit is approximately 300 euros
1st Period | October – November
Courses
Hours | Credits
Introduction to Tourism Management
28 | 2
Introduction to Tourism Management
28 | 2
This course analyses the nature, structure and scope of the tourism and hospitality industry, and discusses how broader business environment influences and trends affect the management of tourism and hospitality organisations in key sectors, such as accommodation, transportation, tour operating, visitor attractions, etc. Focusing on the particularities of tourism as a product and the distinctive characteristics of tourism demand and supply, the course introduces key considerations, challenges and current practices in decision-making in contemporary tourism and hospitality management. The course is complemented with a three-day visit to Costa Navarino, during which students have the opportunity to gain practical knowledge on several aspects of hospitality management.
Business Writing & Presentation Skills
14 | 1
Business Writing & Presentation Skills
14 | 1
This introductory course outlines the main principles of writing and presenting academic and business assignments. A series of activities are used to develop, extend and enhance analytical and synthetical writing and presentation skills. The course explains the importance of knowing one’s audience, purpose and subject of written assignment or presentation. The sequence of stages and steps in the process of writing and presenting effectively is analysed. Preparing and delivering techniques are discussed.
2nd Period | November – December
Courses
Hours | Credits
Managing Service Operations
28 | 2
Managing Service Operations
28 | 2
This course focuses on the unique aspects involved in the design and delivery of service operations. In Tourism and Hospitality the objective is to introduce students to the basic issues and main challenges that most successful service operations face today. Students completing this course will acquire the tools to identify and apply appropriate management processes to ensure efficient, effective and quality oriented service operations.
Marketing Management for Tourism
14 | 1
Marketing Management for Tourism
14 | 1
This course is designed to provide students with a good command of the key elements of marketing management across tourism organizations. During this course students will be encouraged to develop an analytical perspective and a critical understanding of the marketing concepts, models, and tools as they are applied across tourism organizations. Through case studies and contemporary examples from the tourism industry, the practical relevance of marketing theories for tourism managers will be highlighted and students will be expected to apply the theoretical concepts discussed onto real-life marketing examples from the tourism industry.
3rd Period | January – February
Courses
Hours | Credits
Finance and Cost Accounting
28 | 2
Finance and Cost Accounting
28 | 2
This course facilitates the understanding and subsequent use of financial information for decision-making in the tourism sector. It addresses of two main perspectives, each one representing different stakeholders, who use financial information for decision making. In particular, the first part of the course aims to provide the knowledge and skills required for the understanding and use of financial accounting information for decision-making. Some of the topics covered during the course include: the meaning and role of accounting, branches of accounting, and users of accounting information, the accounting cycle, and the financial statements, the effects of the use of different accounting methods, estimates and choices on the financial statements and the subsequent impact on decision making, ways of analyzing, interpreting and evaluating financial statements.
4th Period | February – March
Courses
Hours | Credits
Revenue Management
28 | 2
Revenue Management
28 | 2
This course is an introduction to the theory, principles and practices of revenue management (RM) and how these can be particularly applied to the growing tourism industry. More specifically the course focuses on the application and evaluation of revenue management strategies and is intended for individuals with a specific interest in the tourism industry.
5th Period | April – May
Courses
Hours | Credits
Sustainability in Tourism
14 | 1
Sustainability in Tourism
14 | 1
The course offers a comprehensive introduction to, but also fosters critical engagement with, the concept of sustainable development and its application in the tourism and hospitality industry - both from a policy/development viewpoint and in relation to management approaches to applying sustainability principles. This will be followed by a 7-hour hands-on workshop delivered at the premises of Costa Navarino by specialized trainers.
6th Period | October – November
Courses
Hours | Credits
Managing People in Tourism and Hospitality
28 | 2
Managing People in Tourism and Hospitality
28 | 2
This course covers motivation, involvement, team work, leadership, emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and change management in Tourism Organizations. Each session integrates classical and modern concepts, building on key theories with a rich array of contemporary real-world examples and cases from the Tourism sector.
7th Period | November –December
Courses
Hours | Credits
Business Decisions with Data Models
28 | 2
Business Decisions with Data Models
28 | 2
This course aims to enhance business problem modelling and solving skills by integrating concepts and frameworks from Statistics and Decision Science with modern Information Technology. Emphasis is placed on evaluating risks and using the theory of normative decision making to compare decision alternatives under uncertainty. Participants will learn how to structure complex management problems and combine quantitative analysis with judgment and critical thinking. Topics covered include forecasting, decision analysis, Monte-Carlo simulation and business optimization. It is a practical course that uses case studies and spreadsheets to illustrate how to apply the methodologies introduced.
8th Period | January – February
Courses
Hours | Credits
Digital Communication and Channel Management
28 | 2
Digital Communication and Channel Management
28 | 2
The aim of the course is to provide a comprehensive understanding about Digital Marketing concepts, strategies, and implementation in tourism sector. Starting with the development of the digital strategy for tourism businesses and progressing into more complex issues such as the use and implementation of conventional and alternative media such as social media tools (eg, TripAdvisor, Facebook, etc). With particular emphasis on the increased demands of the tourism market, the course design is clearly oriented to the presentation of best practices from international and Greek tourism entrepreneurship. Thus, through the combination of theory and applied examples of the tools to be presented, the participants will get a solid picture of the actions required for the effective digital presence of tourism organizations
9th Period | February – March
Courses
Hours | Credits
Purchasing and Supply Management
28 | 2
Purchasing and Supply Management
28 | 2
The course covers supply chain coordination, supplier selection, purchasing methodologies and contracting, material forecasting and safety stock, and design of services for supply chain efficiency. It also focuses on the best practices that lead to efficient, effective, and customer-responsive SCM processes that transform ideas into high quality services, delivered at competitive prices while simultaneously providing superior financial returns within environmental, ethical, and legal constraints.
10th Period | April – May
Courses
Hours | Credits
Strategy in Tourism
21 | 1.5
Strategy in Tourism
21 | 1.5
The course provides an integrative framework for the whole program. It will explain basic planning principles of business strategy and the process through which strategic decisions are made in tourism organizations at both destination and organizational level. Students will become familiar with key strategy elements, such as how tourism organizations select the market, product, and areas in which they compete, how they position themselves in these areas, how they interact with their external environments, how they adjust to changes, and how they decide and implement structure and policies that enable them to achieve their overall goals. The role of the HR professionals in the process of corporate strategy formulation and implementation will also be outlined.
Entrepreneurship in Tourism
21 | 1.5
Entrepreneurship in Tourism
21 | 1.5
Nowadays, many millennials dream of becoming entrepreneurs. They often have specific entrepreneurial role models and dream of becoming millionaires before age 35.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are important drivers for success in any service industry. The tourism industry, or rather the sectors that make up the tourism industry, require specific skills and approaches. This module deals with the key issues of entrepreneurship, product and service development, innovation and creativity in two specific sectors of the tourism industry: the hospitality and F&B sectors. It challenges students to think outside the box in terms of how to develop new business/product ideas in a service industry, difficult to virtualize in its entirety.
11th Period | May – August
Courses
Hours | Credits
Career Development Tourism
56 | 4
Career Development Tourism
56 | 4
This course brings together the academic with the business world, providing a unique opportunity to students to advance their career and professional development in the tourism industry. It has the status of a course, hence it carries credits and it is graded. The benefits for students include the opportunity for: the blending of academic and on-the-job learning; the integration of academic knowledge with practical experience; the development of relevant skills and understanding of diverse operations; the identification and/or refinement of career goals; strengthening employability skills. Career development may take the form of an internship in a tourism organization for those students who are currently not working or the form of professional development for those students who work in a tourism organization.
Internship: The expected duration is three (3) months, between May and September. The benefits for students include the opportunity for the blending of academic and on-the-job learning; the use of the explicit knowledge gained during the program, the attainment of tacit knowledge, the development and diversification of skills, the acquisition of work experience, the identification and/or refinement of career goals, the creation and/or development of a professional network. The benefits for companies include the opportunity to meet some company needs with highly qualified and motivated students, the identification of talent for potential future employment, the enrichment of current perspectives and practices with the intern’s novel ideas, the enhancement of social responsibility activities. Professional development: The opportunity is given to students to reflect on their work practices and experiences and apply the academic knowledge acquired through the program on a real tourism organization. A reflective report needs to be produced, which represents the culmination of the program’s intensive learning. Students are expected to test what they have learned in class in a real setting, identify areas for professional development, set career goals and generate a concrete action plan.
Dissertation
56 | 4
Dissertation
56 | 4
The Dissertation is a research project of a student’s special interest in a faculty member’s area of expertise. The students will have the opportunity to construct a detailed plan of a research project; to review specific literature on the selected topic; to identify relevant research questions from the literature; to be able to turn general research questions into empirical ones; to select and justify an appropriate research design; to select and employ suitable methods or techniques to investigate the empirical questions; to analyze financial or social data and to write a report covering a review of the relevant literature, the research questions, an explanation and justification of the design, a description of the conduct and analysis of the research, and a discussion of the findings in relation to the literature and methodological issues.
FACULTY
The Professors
Course Faculty
Below you can see the academic team of our program who deliver all courses. Please note that most courses also contain workshops, which are delivered by well experienced practitioners in the areas of hospitality management, service operations, digital communication and channel management, revenue management and event management.
Academic Director
Evangelia Baralou
Senior Lecturer in Organisation Studies, Open University, UK
Dr. Baralou has broad research interests in how technologies mediate human interactions. She studies serious games and how the gamification process can enhance organizational learning and innovation. Her research draws on activity theory and critical realism as a broader philosophy.
alba profile link
Christos Koritos
Academic Director of the MSc in Marketing
Associate Professor of Marketing
view more
Georgios Papageorgiou
Head of the International Tourism and Hospitality Management Department at The American College of Greece
Professor II & HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GREECE
view more
Stefanos Zarkos
Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Academic Director of The Alba MBA; MSc in Finance; MSc in International Business & Management; MSc in Business for Lawyers; MSc in Entrepreneurship
Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance
view more
CAREER
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Identify new trends and the requirements of employers, and adapt and respond effectively.
- Provide outstanding service along international standards and manage successfully the complexities of the tourism industry.
- Command the theory and practice in all aspects of running a tourism business: strategy, finance, marketing, operations, human resources.
- Contribute to the management and organization of: hospitality, travel, destination, event, conference, leisure, entertainment and real estate development.
- Handle the internal IT systems and online media channels necessary for digital marketing and operations.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships Scheme
You can secure pre-approval of your scholarship, before you apply for admission to the MBA or MSc program of your choice.
GMAT Scholarships
Scholarships of 60% for MBAs and MSc programs for GMAT ≥ 700
SETE Scholarships
Partial scholarships up to 40% to members of SETE (and their offspring)
Nielsen Scholarship | Tourism
Full scholarship for The MSc in Tourism Management
FPower partial Scholarship
FPower offers one partial and merit based scholarship.
Next Generation Family Business Scholarship
Two (2) merit-based scholarships of 50% to a member of the next generation of a family business for several MBA & MSc programs
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for admission, candidates must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree;
- Provide evidence of excellent command of the English language;
- Need to be currently employed or self-employed (valid for the part time mode only)
- GMAT tests are optional unless the Academic Committee requires the applicant to take them: in any case, scores of 550 or more (GRE >155) can strengthen your application and help you secure a scholarship.
Candidates must submit:
- The completed application form, including one recent photograph in jpeg format;
- Two letters of recommendation in Greek or in English language.
- Official Academic Transcripts as well as Certified copies of degrees from each undergraduate, graduate or professional degree earned;
- Proof of competence in the English language (unless schooled in English), e.g. Proficiency or TOEFL or IELTS.
- Three Essays, as indicated in the Application form;
- Receipt of the non-refundable application fee's [€60] deposit
Click here to download the details for admission.
To learn more about academic policy, course credit policy, fees policy and rules for student conduct read the Student Handbook.
CONTACT
Get in touch with us
Fill out the form
Just submit the form below and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.
Lia Tsiabousi
Program Manager
We urge applicants to request further information or to come for a meeting at our downtown campus, in order to better understand their profile and motivations.
Just fill out and submit the form below and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.
Tel.: +30 210 89.64.531-8
Fax: +30 210 89.62.139
e-mail: [email protected]