As the global meetings and events industry surpasses $100 billion annually, the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism is preparing students to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the field.

Through innovative coursework and strategic industry partnerships, the department integrates classroom instruction with the evolving expectations of businesses, venues, and event professionals worldwide. The program emphasizes leadership development across multiple sectors, extending beyond hotels and restaurants to include meetings, conventions, and exhibitions that drive business across industries.

A key component of this approach is HMGT 333: Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, a course developed in collaboration with the Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center. The class, created by general manager and visiting faculty member Greg Stafford, was designed to reflect the scale and sophistication of today’s business and association events. It allows students to experience every stage of event planning, from concept development and logistics to execution and evaluation. Students gain firsthand exposure to current industry practices, including audiovisual production, sustainability initiatives, and experiential design.

The course also integrates data from the International Association of Conference Centres’ (IACC) Meeting Room of the Future research, which tracks trends in technology, attendee engagement, and sustainable practices. Students recently collaborated with IACC professionals to plan a live conference at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, applying classroom concepts to real-world execution.

Enrollment in the department’s hospitality programs has increased by 30 percent over the past year, reflecting strong interest in careers that blend creativity, service, and business leadership. The department’s focus on merging academic theory with practical industry experience continues to prepare graduates for global careers in hospitality, helping shape the future of the meetings and events industry across Texas and beyond.