TAH 399: Best Practice in Sustainable Tourism Management – Maine and Greenland (3 credits)
A Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation (THOR) Institute Vacationland Course hosted by USM, open to students from any of Maine’s 7 public universities
Join us in Portland this June to study sustainable tourism practices and collaborate with our visiting cohort of hospitality students from Greenland!
The goals of this class are to learn about and implement best practices in sustainable tourism and hospitality management in one of Maine’s most popular destinations-Portland. Greenlandic hospitality school peers will be a part of this class and Maine students will collaborate with them to practice international communication and learn about sustainable tourism development in an international and indigenous context. Students will partner with a Greenlandic student to complete a destination assessment in Portland, Maine by interviewing locals (for a community perspective) and acting as a tourist yourself (for a visitor perspective). Field trips to hospitality businesses and guest speakers from places such as Inn by the Sea, Luke’s Lobster, Portland Land & Sea Tours, New England Outdoor Center, and Earth at Hidden Pond will be a part of this class. This will help contextualize students’ understanding of the Maine travel market, empowering them to be creative problem solvers, and preparing them to adopt leadership roles that promotes sustainability.
Dates
June 10-14, 2024 (in-person, experiential learning component in the Portland area) Prior to the in-person portion of this class, there will be some online reading required. Additionally, a final report will be due two weeks after the in-person portion.
Lodging and Transportation
During the in-person portion of the course, students who are not local have access to housing for the week in USM’s Residence Halls, on either Gorham or Portland’s campus (TBD). During the program, transportation will be provided for students to travel between campus and the various activities and site visits. Note: Students will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements to get to and from Portland/Gorham.
Faculty
Dr. Tracy Michaud, Associate Professor and Chair, Tourism & Hospitality Program, University of Southern Maine
Cost
We are excited to be offering this course at minimal cost to students! All enrolled students will receive scholarship funding from the Governor’s Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan which will cover the cost of the activities, accommodations, and three credits of tuition and fees.
Students should be prepared to cover the cost of some meals during the course, personal expenses, and also costs related to arranging their own transportation to and from Portland/Gorham.
How to Enroll
If you are interested in enrolling in this course, please reach out the THOR faculty from your home institution! If you are unsure who that is, a directory can be found here.
Once you are ready to enroll, please complete this brief enrollment form to get the process started.
The priority deadline is April 26. There are limited spaces available and students will be enrolled on rolling basis, so don’t hesitate to reach out!
Additional Questions?
If you have questions about this opportunity, you can reach out to the Program Manager of the THOR Institute, Emily Zider at emily.zider@maine.edu