Georgia State University’s Hospitality Learning Center opened inside the Georgia World Congress Center on Aug. 15. The Learning Center is the first educational facility of its type in the nation and is evidence of a unique industry and education partnership between the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and Georgia State’s School of Hospitality.
The School of Hospitality is located in the Robinson College of Business and is ranked 12th in the nation of hospitality programs in public universities. Students majoring in hospitality at GSU can specialize in a variety of industry segments including tradeshow, venue and event management. With the new Learning Center just down the street at the Georgia World Congress Center, students will have the opportunity to learn in a professional environment, which makes the location of the Learning Center ideal.
“We’re so excited about this partnership between the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia State,” said GWCC General Manager Mark Zimmerman. “With the addition of the Hospitality Learning Center, Georgia State will be able to offer their students a unique experience and we’re so pleased that we can offer that opportunity to them. In the long run, this partnership is sure to further strengthen our already strong hospitality community here in Atlanta.”
The new center will feature state of the art technology, and real life learning opportunities will be provided to students through cameras that can capture tradeshows and events at all phases from set-up to break-down. The center will also be used for critical research to support the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and the hospitality industry. In addition, the center will be used for a variety of professional development programs.
Leaders from both the GWCC and Georgia State were present for the opening event including GWCC Chief Operating Officer Khalil Johnson, GWCC General Manager Mark Zimmerman, Georgia State University President Dr. Carl Patton, Dean Fenwick Huss from the Robinson College of Business and Chris Lowe, President of Coca-Cola Foodservice and Chair of the School of Hospitality’s Industry Board.
Dr. Debby Cannon, Director of the School of Hospitality, stressed that the center provides a new model for hospitality programs around the world. She added, “Partnerships between industry and education are of vital importance as we develop the hospitality leaders for the future. By regularly bringing students into a leading convention center, they will be surrounded by learning experiences.”
