Hospitality Academy

What Hospitality Academy does

Hospitality Academy (legally PI Hospitality Academy) is a private, for-profit educational institution founded in 2020 and operated as a subsidiary of Placement International Group. The company delivers accredited hospitality management programs — spanning a BBA, an MBA & Hospitality Management Certification, a DBA in Strategic Leadership, advanced certificates in hospitality and culinary management, and shorter specialist credentials in sustainability, hotel technology/digital transformation, and cruise hospitality — across approximately ten US campuses (Irvine/Orange County, Miami, Washington D.C., Orlando, Phoenix, Detroit, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Dallas) and a Barcelona-based European program. Its core differentiation is a hybrid learning model that pairs online academic coursework with mandatory paid work experience: US students participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) under F-1 visa pathways, while European students complete integrated internships at luxury hotel and Michelin-level restaurant partners. The institution reports accreditation from three US regional bodies (WSCUC, NECHE, HLC) and official recognition as a training entity in Spain, and operates a published placement network of 500+ luxury hotel and restaurant partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Hyatt, and Rosewood.

The underlying technology stack is a hybrid learning platform combining online coursework delivery with on-site practical training at partner hospitality properties, supported by an integrated CPT/OPT authorization workflow and a 500-property partner network that functions as the placement and internship backbone. The company cites an ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification and GDPR compliance posture for European operations, and offers tuition financing through a partnership with Edufund. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer: prospective students book free advisory calls, complete a five-step enrollment process, and are supported through WhatsApp and inbound forms, with top-of-funnel demand generated via content marketing, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees for degree and certificate programs, with pricing not publicly disclosed and routed through admissions advisors; published outcome metrics include a 92% MBA placement rate within six months of completion and a 90% F-1 visa success rate.

The business model is a tuition-driven, consumer-facing education services model targeted predominantly at international students (60+ nationalities represented) who want to combine accredited US or European degrees with paid work experience and a pathway into luxury hospitality employment. Segments span international students seeking US hospitality education, European hospitality students in Barcelona, career changers pursuing MBA-level credentials, and senior hospitality executives pursuing the DBA. Distribution is entirely direct, with no enterprise sales motion and no disclosed third-party channel partners; placement risk is structurally de-risked by the partner network rather than by guaranteed outcomes on the demand side.

Name

Hospitality Academy

Legal name

PI Hospitality Academy

Website

https://pihospitalityacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hospitality Academy (PI Hospitality Academy) is a private, Placement International Group-owned institution founded in 2020 that delivers accredited hospitality degrees and certificates (BBA, MBA, DBA, specialist credentials) combined with paid CPT/OPT work experience at 500+ luxury hotel partners across ten US campuses and Barcelona.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality & Food Service (EDABALAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

Keywords

• Hospitality education programs
• Work-integrated learning
• Hospitality management degrees
• CPT OPT training programs
• Hotel industry certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Revenue generated from tuition fees for accredited degree programs (BBA, MBA, DBA) and professional certificates in hospitality management. Programs include various duration options from 6 months to 3 years with different pricing structures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hospitality Academy is an accredited educational institution that delivers hospitality management degree programs (BBA, MBA, DBA), professional certificates, and specialist training. Programs combine online academic coursework with mandatory paid practical training through CPT/OPT in the USA and internships in Europe, supported by visa assistance and job placement through a global network of partner hotels and restaurants.

Product overview

Hospitality Academy is an educational provider offering a portfolio of accredited degree programs (BBA, MBA, DBA), professional certificates, and specialist programs in hospitality management. The programs are delivered through a hybrid learning model combining online academics with practical work experience via CPT/OPT in the USA and internships in Europe. USA programs span locations including Miami, Orange County, Washington D.C., Orlando, Phoenix, Detroit, Santa Monica, San Francisco, and Dallas. European programs are delivered in Barcelona. Key program families include the MBA & Hospitality Management Certification, International MBA programs (Executive, Global, Extended), and University Specialist programs in Hotel Technology/Digital Transformation and Hotel Sustainability. The platform also includes career support services, visa assistance, and financial aid options through Edufund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Doctor of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership (DBA)

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of MBA graduates secure employment or career advancement within 6 months of completion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida Universities PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with Florida universities enabling students to earn U.S. degrees while working through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), launched October 2020. This partnership was foundational to the company's work-integrated learning model.
• Four Seasons Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal luxury hotel chain providing internship and work placement opportunities for Hospitality Academy students. One of the flagship partners for CPT/OPT training experiences.
• The Ritz-CarltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegendary luxury hotel brand providing student placement opportunities. Gold standard service training environment for Hospitality Academy graduates.
• Marriott InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal leader with 30+ brands providing extensive placement opportunities across various hotel categories including W Hotels, St. Regis, Edition, and more.
• Hyatt Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal hospitality company known for people-first culture providing CPT/OPT training placements for Hospitality Academy students.
• Rosewood Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUltra-luxury hotel collection providing refined residential hospitality training experiences for Hospitality Academy students.
• Omni Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium hospitality brand offering American classics experience providing CPT/OPT training placements.
• Jean-Georges RestaurantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichelin-starred fine dining restaurant group led by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten providing culinary training opportunities.
• Wolfgang PuckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern American cuisine with global influence providing culinary management training opportunities.
• Atelier CrenncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContemporary French artistic gastronomy by chef Dominique Crenn providing high-level culinary training.
• 1 HotelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable luxury hotel brand with nature-inspired design providing sustainability-focused training experiences.
• W BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury lifestyle hotel in Barcelona providing internship placements for European MBA programs.
• Hotel Arts BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-star luxury hotel in Barcelona providing professional placement for Hospitality Academy Barcelona students.
• Hermanos TorrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichelin-starred restaurant in Barcelona providing culinary internship experiences for Hospitality Academy students.
• SOC (Servei d'Ocupació de Catalunya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalan Employment Service providing institutional recognition for the Advanced Certificate in Hospitality Management program in Barcelona.
• SEPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Public Employment Service providing institutional recognition for the Advanced Certificate in Hospitality Management program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hospitalityacademy5421
• Facebookfacebook.com/hospitalityacademyofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/hospitalityacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/hospitality_academy_official

Compliance6 records

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 Hospitality Academy