The MS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Program at GW

09/19/2026

50+ Years of Legacy of the GWSB MSTHEM program

09/19/2026

A Legacy of Excellence and Leadership in Graduate Education: 50+ Years of GWSB’s MS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

09/19/2026

BRINGING THE WORLD BANK GROUP EXPERIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM AT GW BUSINESS MSTHEM program

We are delighted to welcome our distinguished alumnus Shaun Mann, a tourism Specialist at the World Bank Group in Washington, DC, for a special guest lecture:

📊 “Utilization of Research and Data for the World Bank’s Tourism Development Projects”

Drawing on more than 20 years of international development experience, Shaun will share insights into how research, evidence, and data inform tourism development projects around the world—and how these tools translate from the classroom into real-world decision-making. The guest lecture will be hosted by Dr. Cevat Tosun as part of TSTD 6270: Research Methods and Applications.

At the Master of Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management (MSTHEM) program at The George Washington University School of Business, we believe that learning should extend beyond textbooks and connect students directly with global industry and development leaders.

This is an example of what studying tourism, hospitality, and event management at GW can offer: a Washington, DC classroom connected to global institutions, experienced practitioners, and real-world tourism development challenges.

For additional information about the guest lecture, please contact [email protected].

09/05/2026

https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/gw-business-students-attend-destination-dcs-annual-marketing-outlook-meeting-gw

GW Business Students Attend Destination DC's Annual Marketing Outlook Meeting at GW

Since 2021, Cevat Tosun, director of The George Washington University School of Business Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management program, has brought students to Destination DC’s annual Marketing Outlook Meeting, connecting them with hundreds of hospitality and tourism industry leaders.
The most recent meeting was held Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Lisner Auditorium, where GW President Ellen M. Granberg welcomed approximately 500 industry professionals, students, and alumni to campus.
The experience is part of the program’s commitment to experiential, industry-based learning as students gain opportunities to learn directly from leaders in their field. The program also has integrated events of professional organizations such as the US Travel Association, Destination DC, Professional Convention and Meeting Association, and Destinations International into its curriculum.
“Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, is our wider classroom and social lab," Tosun said. “What our students learn in the classroom, they immediately implement through the extracurricular learning opportunities at no extra cost to the students. The city of D.C. presents unmatched and unfair learning and networking advantages to our students. The faculty connects the students to the industry and the industry leaders to the GW campus.”

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

08/12/2026

With 50+ Years of Legacy, the GWSB MSTHEM program continues to engage and lead the global tourism, hospitality and event industry from the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

The GWSB Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (MS THEM) program is proud to announce a new three-year partnership with PCMA, the world's largest association for business events professionals. Through this partnership, MS THEM students gain access to exclusive internships, mentorship opportunities, guest speakers, and PCMA's global network of events professionals - turning classroom learning into real-world experience.

This builds on an existing relationship: PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat already serves on the MS THEM Industry Leadership Council. It's another way MS THEM connects students directly to the global business events industry before they even graduate.
The George Washington University School of Business , GW Tourism for Tomorrow

08/01/2026

It is never too late to remember and share the good things!

On April 9th, The George Washington University School of Business (GWSB) welcomed special guests, friends and family, alumni, and current students for “In Honor of Don Hawkins: The Distinguished Lecture & MSTHEM Alumni Awards” - a special evening of remembrance, celebration, and continued purpose.

As founder of both the Master of Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management (MSTHEM) program and the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University (IITS), Dr. Hawkins’ influence on tourism policy, education, and global practice is hard to overstate. He helped shape generations of tourism leaders, destinations, institutions, and ideas - always with the belief that tourism should serve people, protect place, and create long-term value. Dr. Hawkins has earned the UN Tourism Ulysses Prize and served as the first vice president of UN Tourism's Board of Affiliate Members.

A highlight of the evening was the inaugural Don Hawkins Distinguished Lecture, delivered by The Honorable Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, who honored Don’s role in Jamaica’s tourism development and called him a “national hero of tourism.”

A tribute video was produced especially for this event, and can be watched here: https://lnkd.in/giCV3a7w

The MSTHEM Alumni Awards honored three of Professor Hawkin’s former students and mentees whose work carries on his legacy and reflects his values: Kristin Lamoureux, MTA '98 (Alumni Award for Social Impact), Shaun Mann, MTA '05 (Alumni Award for Industry Leadership), and Joe Goldblatt, MTA '94 (Alumni Advocacy Award).

The life and work of Casey Canevari, MTA '22, who tragically passed away last year, was also honored.

The evening also featured meaningful announcements to carry Don's legacy forward, including both the Don Hawkins Special Recognition Scholarships and the Don Hawkins Sustainable Tourism Passport, a living digital tribute inviting alumni, colleagues, students, and friends to share memories and stories from around the world, which can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/g5wG-g7m (while visiting the site, please consider making a donation there to support his legacy: https://lnkd.in/ghCyVRbh)

Thank you to the Hawkins and Canevari families, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Dr. Sevin Yeltekin (Dean of GWSB), Dr. Christopher Kayes (Chair of GWSB Department of Management), the MSTHEM faculty and student/alumni community, the MSTHEM alumni honorees, special guests, and all attendees for a special evening that truly honored and celebrated the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Hawkins and his enduring contributions to tourism policy, education, and global practice.

Tourism For Tomorrow GW Business Alumni

Cevat Tosun, Seleni Matus, Larry Yu, Stuart Levy, Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Chris Seek, Jonathan Whitehead, Yosi Zelalem, Amélie Lebourgeois, Daniela Gamez, Naomi Rothwell, Naomi Horna Young, Jun Bum Kim, Pauline Perrotin

04/25/2026

The MS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Program, The George Washington University School of Business, with its 50 years of history and legacy in graduate education, has been engaging the industry powerhouse leaders and industry icons by inviting them as guest speakers in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. More recently, it was a great honor to host two incomparable industry icons, Dean, CEO of Explore St. Louis, and Leah Chandler, CDME, CMO of Brand USA, as guest speakers in my TSTD 6263 Destination Marketing class.
It was an incredible learning experience for my students. It was so engaging and insightful. Brad and Leah shared their perspectives on the practical implications of the marketing management philosophies in the context of destination marketing and management under different cultural settings and at different administrative levels. In Brad Dean’s words, “Their (students’) questions were sharp. Their thinking was bold. Their enthusiasm was undeniable.” In my words, the perspectives of the guest speakers are visionary, insightful, forward-looking, and even revolutionary.
The key takeaway noted by one student, Naomi Horna Young, “The best destination marketing professionals don't just promote places. They transform them. Seeing that kind of passion and expertise shared with graduate students like me is exactly why I love this field. … Brad put it best: "our industry's future isn't just bright. It's about to be reimagined."
It is a pleasure to see our students engaging so deeply with the industry’s top minds. This is what experiential learning looks like at the Master of Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management, The George Washington University School of Business.
... we prioritize bringing the "real world" into the classroom. When leaders like Brad Dean and Leah Chandler, CDME, share their expertise, it doesn't just provide a lesson—it provides a roadmap for the next generation of destination marketing professionals.

Thank you, Brad Dean and Leah Chandler, CDME, for your availability out of your busy schedule. I am greatly honored to have you in my Destination Marketing class. Your insights on resilience—from Puerto Rico’s recovery to the evolving role of DMOs—remind us that our industry doesn’t just sell travel; it drives transformation. You are truly powerhouse industry leaders and icons.

03/18/2026

We are pleased to announce an engaging and timely guest lecture in my TSTD 6263 Destination Marketing course at The George Washington University School of Business, Master of Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management.
We are honored to welcome Cassady Bailey, Vice President of Partner Engagement & Marketing at Brand USA, who will deliver a lecture on “Critical Reflections on USA’s Destination Marketing Practices.”
My sincere thanks to Bailey for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her expertise with our students. As one of our distinguished alumni, she is an exceptional role model and a true example of professional excellence.
Interested in attending? Please email [email protected]

03/13/2026

I encourage students interested in tourism, media, aviation, and entrepreneurship to attend this upcoming conversation hosted by GW Tourism for Tomorrow the George Washington University School of Business

TFT will explore how passion can evolve into opportunity by examining how travel storytelling, digital media, and personal branding can open doors to careers in the global travel industry. Jeb and Suzanne Brooks will share how they built a global platform from their love of exploration and what it takes to stand out in today’s competitive media landscape.

This should be an insightful discussion for anyone curious about how creativity, curiosity, and strategic storytelling can translate into professional pathways.

Register now: https://lnkd.in/eQE4cAGs

03/12/2026

Register today: https://lnkd.in/enuEyUp5
A friendly reminder to join us on Thursday, April 9th at 6:00 PM at The George Washington University School of Business for a special evening honoring the life and legacy of Professor Donald E. Hawkins. Together, we will remember and celebrate Professor Hawkins' lasting contributions to tourism policy, education, and global practice. The evening will feature the inaugural Don Hawkins Distinguished Lecture delivered by The Honorable Edmund Bartlett (Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism), remarks from Dr. Sevin Yeltekin (Dean of The George Washington University School of Business ), and Dr. Christopher Kayes (Professor and Chair, GWSB Department of Management), the Master of Science in Tourism Hospitality and Event Management (MSTHEM) Alumni Awards, and a reception.
🎟️ Registration: https://lnkd.in/enuEyUp5
🗓️ Date/Time:
Thursday, April 9, 2026
6:00 PM ET
📍Location:
The George Washington University School of Business
Duquès Hall, Room 151
2201 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20052