FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

What FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management does

The FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is an academic department within Florida International University, a public state university, operating from the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami, Florida. The school delivers undergraduate (Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management), graduate (Master of Science in Hospitality Management), and doctoral (DBA) degree programs, supplemented by executive education, Programming on Demand (PODS), Vidal-Duart Wine Studies, and study abroad offerings. Program enrollment exceeds 1,800 students supported by 78 employees, with a 92% retention rate and 740+ annual internship placements.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: student tuition and fees processed via FIU's centralized enrollment system; scholarships and donor giving (over $1.5 million annually); SOBEWFF festival proceeds (over $45 million cumulative, $2.2 million in student scholarships to date); and executive education including certificates such as AI in hospitality integration and a 10-week hotel real estate course. The school's go-to-market leverages top QS World University Rankings positioning (#1 Florida, #3 U.S. public, #23 global for 2026), digital recruitment, campus tours, and corporate partner pipelines that convert into enrollment and career placement.

The school's distinctive experiential learning infrastructure rests on two flagship partnerships: the Bacardi Center of Excellence (beverage management, fine spirits, 100+ hands-on events annually, Future Proof bar training platform, Better Bar Method certification) and the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF), in which 1,500+ students annually contribute 4,300+ volunteer shifts. Corporate partners including Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Marriott International, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Burger King provide employment pipelines, while CasaCuba at FIU extends cultural and academic engagement.

Name

FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

Legal name

Florida International University - Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management

Website

https://hospitality.fiu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is an academic department within Florida International University offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral hospitality programs to approximately 1,800 students, supported by flagship experiential partnerships with Bacardi and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Hospitality & Tourism Management

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management Schools (within Business Schools) (EDAHAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Student & Youth Educational Tours (THAKAGAA)

Keywords

• Hospitality education
• Tourism management
• Executive education
• Beverage management
• Event management

Headquarters

HQ city

North Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Student Tuition and Fees: Revenue is generated through undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees paid by enrolled students, processed through Florida International University's centralized enrollment and financial aid system.
2. Scholarships and Donor Giving: The school receives over $1.5 million annually in scholarship funding and charitable donations from alumni, corporate partners, and individual donors. Donations are directed through the FIU Chaplin School development office.
3. SOBEWFF Festival Proceeds: The South Beach Wine & Food Festival has raised more than $45 million for the Chaplin School and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, with $2.2M+ in scholarships awarded to students to date. The festival also generates experiential learning value and brand visibility.
4. Executive Education and Professional Programs: Revenue is generated through certificate programs such as the AI in hospitality integration certificate and 10-week hotel real estate courses targeting industry professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management delivers academic degree programs (Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctorate in Business Administration) and Executive Education certificates in hospitality and tourism management, anchored by experiential learning through the Bacardi Center of Excellence and direct student involvement in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF). The school awards more than $1.5 million in annual scholarships, places 740+ students in internships each year, and serves 1,800+ enrolled students with a 92% retention rate. Programs are delivered on-campus at the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami, fully online, and through executive and professional development formats.

Product overview

FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs forming a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include undergraduate (Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management), graduate (Master of Science in Hospitality Management), and doctoral (DBA) degree programs, supplemented by Executive Education, Programming on Demand (PODS), and the Vidal-Duart Wine Studies program. The school operates distinctive experiential learning initiatives including the Bacardi Center of Excellence (beverage/spirits education), the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) where 1,500+ students gain real-world event management experience, and the Future Proof bar training platform. Supporting programs include Study Abroad opportunities, over $1.5 million in annual scholarships, and various student clubs and guilds (Bartenders Guild, Coffee Guild, Wine Guild, Hotel Guild, Culinary Club, Back of House) that provide hands-on industry engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bacardi Center of Excellence: A pioneering partnership between Bacardi Spirits Portfolio and the Chaplin School focusing on beverage management, fine spirits, industry innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
• SOBEWFF® (South Beach Wine & Food Festival)
• Future Proof
• Vidal-Duart Wine Studies

Products and services

• Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management Undergraduate degree program available on-campus and online, preparing students for careers in hotel management, restaurant operations, beverage management, real estate management, event and entertainment management, and tourism.
• Master of Science in Hospitality Management Graduate degree program available on-campus, online, and in executive formats, including areas of specialization for advanced hospitality management careers.
• Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Doctoral program for advanced research and academic careers in hospitality and tourism management.
• Executive Education Professional education programs including a certificate of completion in integrating AI in hospitality and a 10-week hotel real estate course focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, targeting working hospitality professionals.
• Programming on Demand (PODS) Flexible, on-demand programming courses for professional development in hospitality management.
• Vidal-Duart Wine Studies Specialized wine studies program focusing on wine education, tasting techniques, and the wine industry.
• Bacardi Center of Excellence A pioneering partnership between Bacardi Spirits Portfolio and the Chaplin School focusing on beverage management, fine spirits, industry innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, offering 100+ hands-on events per year.
• Future Proof A collaborative learning platform and bar training program created by Bacardi USA, the Chaplin School, and renowned bartenders, providing foundational knowledge, cutting-edge mixology techniques, and a certificate of completion for hospitality professionals.
• Better Bar Method Beverage industry training and certification program offered through the Bacardi Center of Excellence.
• Study Abroad International education opportunities for hospitality students, including partnerships for studying coffee and wine globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% student retention rate
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Southern Glazer's Wine & SpiritsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is the primary co-organizer and founding partner of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF). The partnership has raised over $45 million for the Chaplin School and provides students with hands-on experience at the nation's premier wine and food event. Southern Glazer's executives, including Chief Communications Officer Lee Brian Schrager (festival founder), hold leadership roles in the school's industry engagement programs.
• Bacardi USAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBacardi USA partnered with the Chaplin School to establish the Bacardi Center of Excellence — a pioneering educational partnership focused on beverage management, fine spirits, industry innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. The partnership includes the Bacardi Innovation Fund, Bacardi Spirits Management major curriculum, Bacardi Fellows & Scholars program, and student clubs (Bartenders Guild and Coffee Guild). Scholarships of $2,000 are available for potential future beverage industry leaders. The partnership spans FIU's Biscayne Bay Campus and includes CasaCuba, a Bacardi-branded facility.
• Food Network / Capital One (SOBEWFF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFood Network serves as the presenting media partner for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival alongside Capital One. The festival showcases celebrity chefs, Grammy-winning artists, and leading personalities from wine and spirits industries. FIU is the only university whose students help plan and execute this national event, making it the school's most prominent brand-building partnership.
• Marriott InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarriott International is listed as a major corporate partner providing employment experiences and career pipeline opportunities for Chaplin School graduates. Students gain access to major global corporations for fast-track career opportunities in hotel and resort management.
• Carnival Cruise LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCarnival Cruise Lines is a major corporate partner providing employment experiences and career pipeline opportunities for Chaplin School graduates, including cruise line management career pathways.
• Burger KingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBurger King is a major corporate partner providing employment experiences and career pipeline opportunities for Chaplin School graduates in restaurant and food service management.
• CasaCuba at FIUflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCasaCuba is a partnership initiative spanning FIU's campuses in conjunction with Bacardi, bringing Cuban cultural heritage, academia, and industry together in an immersive experience. The grand opening of CasaCuba at FIU is part of the phased Bacardi-FIU partnership engagement, integrating Bacardi's family legacy with FIU's educational programs.
• Guy Fieri FoundationminorOthersThe Guy Fieri Foundation collaborates with Chaplin School students on hot meal service during disaster response drills, connecting hospitality skills with humanitarian community service.

Scale indicators10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Michigan State University - School of Hospitality Business: MSU's School of Hospitality Business is housed within the Broad College of Business and offers hospitality management degrees with strong alumni placement in hotel and food service. It is a peer in scale and program structure.
• Boston University - School of Hospitality Administration: BU's School of Hospitality Administration is a private-university peer with comparable undergraduate and graduate hospitality offerings, competing for applicants in the Northeast corridor and corporate partnerships across global hotel brands.
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) - Harrah College of Hospitality: UNLV's Harrah College is the closest U.S. public-university peer to FIU Chaplin in scale, location (a major hospitality market), and focus on hospitality operations. It draws from Las Vegas's deep hotel/casino/resort employer base comparable to Miami's tourism ecosystem.
• Johnson & Wales University: Johnson & Wales is a private university with strong culinary and hospitality undergraduate programs. It competes with FIU Chaplin for career-oriented hospitality students seeking hands-on training and direct industry placement.
• Cornell University - Nolan School of Hotel Administration: Cornell's Nolan School is widely regarded as the leading hospitality management program in the U.S. It competes directly with FIU Chaplin for top applicants, faculty, and corporate partnerships, and serves as the prestige benchmark against which Chaplin measures itself.
• University of Houston - Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership: UH's Hilton College is another leading U.S. public hospitality program with deep hotel industry partnerships and a comparable focus on workforce-ready graduates. It is a direct competitor for the same applicant pool and corporate partner sponsorship dollars.
• NYU - Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality: NYU's Tisch Center offers undergraduate and graduate hospitality degrees with a New York City base and global industry network. It is a direct competitor for executive education candidates and graduate-level applicants evaluating top-tier U.S. programs.
• Penn State - School of Hospitality Management: Penn State's School of Hospitality Management is a top-ranked U.S. public-university hospitality program with strong research output and a broad corporate alumni network. It competes with FIU Chaplin for ranked-program status and large-scale undergraduate enrollment.

Broad incumbents

• Les Roches International School of Hotel Management: Les Roches is a leading Swiss-based global hospitality school with a strong international brand and premium tuition model. It is a competitor for global executive education and graduate-level candidates seeking a hospitality credential.
• École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL): EHL is consistently ranked as the world's top hospitality school and represents the global benchmark for hospitality management education. It competes with FIU Chaplin for international students and executive education candidates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bartendersguild_fiu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/fiuhospitality

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management