Academy of Hospitality & Tourism- Miami Dade County Public Schools

What Academy of Hospitality & Tourism- Miami Dade County Public Schools does

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) is a career-themed academy program operated within Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), a government school district. It is part of the national NAF (National Academy Foundation) network and prepares grades 9-12 high school students for hospitality and tourism careers through industry-specific curriculum, work-based learning activities (job shadows, internships, mock interviews, career fairs), and advisory-board engagement with local industry leaders. The program operates as small learning communities embedded within 34 M-DCPS high schools hosting 81 total NAF academies across themes including Hospitality & Tourism, Finance, Health Sciences, Engineering, and Information Technology.

The core product is the NAF Academy of Hospitality & Tourism curriculum, supplemented by the NAFTrack Certification (which connects graduates to hiring consideration from national employers), the annual NAF Mega Student Industry Conference, the Around the World Dinner fundraising event, and the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award program (established 1991, now in its 33rd year). The platform integrates structured learning with recurring industry events, employer partnerships, and scholarship programs processed through MECA (Magnet Educational Choice Association), a 501(c)(3) Direct Support Organization.

The business model is non-commercial. As a public school program, AOHT receives funding through the M-DCPS operating budget, Florida state education funding, and private donations channeled via MECA. There is no pricing model or paying customer base. Reported outcomes include a 99% graduation rate with 95% college-bound for M-DCPS NAF academy students (2017-18), and national NAF averages of 98% graduation with 92% college-bound. The program's strategic moat rests on its 45 Distinguished NAF academy designations (the most of any U.S. district), the 2023 Sandy Weil Award for Excellence, and a deep employer-partner ecosystem including Hyatt Regency Miami, Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, Cisco, and the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association.

Name

Academy of Hospitality & Tourism- Miami Dade County Public Schools

Legal name

Academy of Hospitality & Tourism - Miami Dade County Public Schools

Website

https://miaminafacademies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism is a public-school career academy program within Miami-Dade County Public Schools that prepares high school students for hospitality and tourism careers through industry-aligned curriculum, work-based learning, and advisory-board partnerships under the national NAF network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAHAL

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

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDANAEAL

Summer Programs, Research & Extracurricular Planning for Admissions

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/College Admissions Counseling & Application Support

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Hospitality tourism training
• High school career academies
• Work-based learning programs
• Workforce pipeline development

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) is a public high school career academy that delivers industry-specific curriculum, structured work-based learning, and NAFTrack Certification to prepare students in grades 9–12 for college and careers in the hospitality and tourism industry. The program operates as small learning communities within 34 Miami-Dade County public high schools and is supported by an industry-led advisory board that provides internships, mock interviews, career fairs, and scholarships.

Product overview

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) is a career academy program within Miami-Dade County Public Schools operating under the national NAF (National Academy Foundation) network. The program operates as a platform of interconnected services including the core NAFTrack Certification program for career preparation, the annual NAF Mega Student Industry Conference for networking and internship opportunities, the Around the World Dinner fundraising event, and the South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award program. These products work together to provide high school students with industry-specific curriculum, work-based learning activities, and direct connections to hospitality and tourism industry professionals, preparing them for college and career success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAF Academy of Hospitality & Tourism

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% graduation rate with 95% college-bound for M-DCPS NAF academy students (2017-18)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NAF (National Academy Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAF is the national non-profit organization that provides the framework, curricula, and standards for career-themed academies. The Miami-Dade NAF Academies are part of a national network of education, business, and community leaders working to ensure students are college, career, and future ready.
• Miami Dade Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 2026 NAF Mega Student Industry Conference at North Campus. Also partners for graduation ceremonies at Wolfson Campus.
• Miami Marriott Biscayne BaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual host venue for Around the World Dinner events, including the 23rd Annual event in 2024. Provides culinary experience opportunities for students.
• Hyatt Regency MiamimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue for South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award Luncheon events annually.
• Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with AOHT Advisory Board for fundraising events including the annual bowling fundraiser. Wendy Kallergis serves as Chair of AOHT Advisory Board and President & CEO of the association.
• Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident Steve Adkins received 2022 South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year award. Chamber focuses on DEI and community advocacy in hospitality.
• South Florida Hispanic Chamber FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors educational tours for AOHT students including New Orleans trips as part of Education Enhancement Program providing scholarships to academy students for 12+ years.
• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors BureaumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Steve Adkins represents the bureau at AOHT events. Nominees for Tourism Professional of the Year include GMCVB Senior Director.
• PrologisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored Forklift Operator Certification course opportunity for Miami Springs Senior High School graduating seniors.
• CiscomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Girls in ICT Day events and mentoring opportunities at Cisco headquarters for Miami Lakes Educational Center NAF Academy of IT students.
• South Florida Educational Federal Credit UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Mad City Money financial literacy simulations for students and trains Academy of Finance students to run school site credit unions.
• SunTrust/FIU Financial Wellness ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided 8 weeks of financial literacy instruction to Academy of Finance students at Coral Gables Senior High.
• CIO Council of South FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwards $1000 scholarships annually at the 18th Annual State of the CIO event to exceptional students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
• Magnet Educational Choice Association (MECA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Direct Support Organization of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Handles sponsorship payments and donations for NAF academies.
• Johnson & Wales UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Academy of Hospitality & Tourism graduation ceremonies for Class of 2019.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America): International student organization preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Comparable as a co-curricular career-preparation organization with similar hospitality and tourism focus targeting high school students.
• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle school, high school, and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Comparable as a parallel career and technical education (CTE) student organization with similar target audience and workforce-development mission.

Direct peers

• NAF (National Academy Foundation): National nonprofit organization that provides the framework, curricula, and standards for the academies. AOHT is a member of this network, with shared curriculum, NAFTrack Certification, and national recognition programs. Directly comparable as the parent ecosystem for career-themed academies.
• Magnet Educational Choice Association (MECA): 501(c)(3) Direct Support Organization of M-DCPS that handles sponsorship payments and donations for NAF academies. Directly comparable as the financial and operational support entity for AOHT.
• Johnson & Wales University - College of Hospitality Management: Hospitality-focused university with curriculum aligned to industry careers. Comparable as a higher-education pathway in the same hospitality/tourism field, and has hosted AOHT graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2019.

Broad incumbents

• National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC): National organization supporting career academy models across the U.S. Comparable as a broader umbrella for the career academy approach that AOHT exemplifies, with shared interest in work-based learning and employer partnerships.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) - Florida Department of Education: State-level CTE administration overseeing career and technical education programs across Florida. Comparable as the broader regulatory and funding framework within which AOHT operates as part of M-DCPS CTE programs.

Regional players

• Florida International University - Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management: Regional university with leading hospitality and tourism school. Comparable as a regional higher-education destination for AOHT graduates pursuing four-year degrees in hospitality.
• Miami Dade College - School of Hospitality & Tourism Management: Regional community college with degree programs in hospitality and tourism. Comparable as a regional education provider in the same subject area that AOHT graduates may feed into. Hosts AOHT graduation ceremonies and the 2026 Mega NAF Student Industry Conference.

Others

• Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association: Regional industry association representing hotels in Greater Miami and the Beaches. Comparable as AOHT's primary industry partner that provides advisory board leadership, fundraising support, and workforce pipeline for the hospitality sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mdcpsaoht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Academy of Hospitality & Tourism- Miami Dade County Public Schools