ATLANTA (January 30, 2004) - Georgia State University's Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority announced this week the creation of the Hospitality Learning Center, located within the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

The new center, located near the main entrance to Building A, will be home to a high tech teaching and research site for graduate and undergraduate studies. The GWCC is just a short walk from the Georgia State University campus and will offer students and professors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the hospitality industry.

The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality provides academic courses in the areas of hotel, restaurant, private club, tradeshow and convention, fair and tourism industries. By hosting the Hospitality Learning Center at the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia State University plans to foster education, professional development and growth of the hospitality industry in Georgia; enhance the educational opportunities of undergraduate and graduate students and industry professionals; and perform critical research to support the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and the hospitality industry. The School of Hospitality is located within the nationally ranked Robinson College of Business. The School is ranked in the "Top 25" hospitality programs in the nation (12 th public institutions/13 th overall).

Some of the proposed programs for the Hospitality Learning Center include event/venue management for undergraduate and graduate students; in-house professional development for GWCC clients and employees; and educational programs for the hospitality and tourism industries.

"This partnership between the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and Georgia State University is a one-of-a-kind venture that benefits the students, the University, the Congress Center and the hospitality industry. What a great addition this Learning Center will be to our campus," said John Smith, General Manager of the Georgia World Congress Center and adjunct professor at the School of Hospitality. The Georgia World Congress Center Authority campus includes Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Dome in addition to the Georgia World Congress Center.

"This unprecedented alliance brings new meaning to relevant, real-time learning experiences," added Dr. Debby Cannon, director for the School of Hospitality. "This Center will serve as a model for other hospitality programs domestically and throughout the world. Partnerships between industry and education will grow in importance as we experience tremendous mutual benefits."

Design of the Hospitality Learning Center will include state-of-the-art technology including classrooms complete with VCRs, large screens, document cameras, and cable television. Rooms will also enable web stream video conferencing and will have Internet access. Classes begin at the Hospitality Learning Center in the summer of 2004.