Food Tourism Entrepreneurship Program (Postgraduate) (H417)
Program Description
Program Overview
Learn to create "taste of place" experiences that support local economies and emphasize sustainability with the Food Tourism Entrepreneurship (Postgraduate) program. This one-year program, geared toward graduates of hospitality, tourism, culinary arts and business diploma and degree programs, will prepare you for a career as a tourism entrepreneur and a range of exciting roles with local and international tourism attractions, restaurants and resorts, wineries and breweries, government agencies and more.
Full Description
Explore the geography of food and beverage and learn to develop partnerships to promote unique experiences with the Food Tourism Entrepreneurship (Postgraduate) (H417) program. This one-year graduate certificate program prepares graduates to harness local economies and cultures of food and drink and channel them into successful and resilient tourism "experience" enterprises.
Graduates may find career opportunities at local and international tourism attractions, culinary travel groups/associations, restaurants, wineries, breweries, cideries, distillers, agricultural destinations, destination marketing and development organizations, and government agencies in roles such as culinary tourism program manager, marketing travel consultant and conference services manager.
This program builds on the strengths of George Brown College's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and Chef School. Business graduates may also be interested in pathways in this field.
Students will learn to:
- connect and work with businesses, communities and associations
- support local economies by fostering relationships with stakeholders in agriculture, hospitality, tourism and agritourism
- bring creative entrepreneurship skills to the small and medium food tourism businesses that make up the food tourism sector
- provide consumers with "taste of place" experiences that build on new business models and opportunities
- generate, capture, communicate and market unique experiences that speak to sustainability and traceability consumer values
The first two semesters of this program each include six courses provided through hybrid delivery. The third semester has three online hours of independent research projects per week, plus a work-integrated learning experience.
Note: George Brown College has adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative. As a result, we no longer have computer lab classrooms. For classes that require computers, students will need to bring their own laptops. Our Library Learning Commons offers open access computers as well as equipment that can be borrowed on a short-term basis. For more information, please contact The Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at chcastudentsupport@georgebrown.ca
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
The food tourism sector's return to the impressive growth and innovation of pre-pandemic years is founded on creative entrepreneurship and local "taste of place" experiences. It explores the geography of food and beverage in traditional and new and sustainable ways. According to Destination Canada, Canadians spend $43 billion a year outside the country, while inbound visitors to Canada spend $22 billion. There is an immense opportunity within Canada and, as Marsha Walden, President and CEO of Destination Canada, has said, “If we could capture 25 per cent of that outbound revenue it would be a huge boost to our industry.” New enterprises that grow from the disruption of the global pandemic will be agile, local and will reinvent the way consumers connect with their culinary landscape.
Educational Pathways
This graduate certificate program is well suited to graduates of programs in hospitality, tourism, culinary arts, business or marketing, including:
- Baking and Pastry Arts Management (H113)
- Culinary Management (H100/H116)
- Culinary Management – Nutrition (H119)
- Food and Beverage Management – Restaurant Management (H132)
- Hotel Operations Management (H133)
- Event Planning (H141)
- Tourism and Hospitality Management (H130)
- a wide variety of business programs
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HOST 1165 | Gastronomy and Tastes of Place 1 |
| HOST 1166 | Entrepreneurship in Food Tourism |
| HOST 1167 | Leadership and Innovation in Food Tourism |
| HOST 1168 | Food Tourism Marketing |
| HOST 1169 | Circular Economy and Sustainable Chef |
| HOST 1170 | Global Tourism Management |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HOST 1211 | Gastronomy and Tastes of Place 2 |
| HOST 1212 | Event Planning in Food Tourism |
| HOST 1213 | Fundamentals of Wine and Beverage for Food Tourism |
| HOST 1214 | Food Writing and Social Media of Food |
| HOST 1215 | Sustainable Tourism and Ecopreneurship |
| HOST 1216 | Research Methods in Food Tourism |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HOST 1303 | Special Topics in Food Tourism Entrepreneurship |
| HOST 1304 | Externship/Field Placement |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Research and assess local, national and global environments for food and beverage tourism opportunities that connect to local producers and provide tourists with authentic destination experiences.
- Develop sustainable food and beverage tourism products and experiences that equitably support the local environment and economy while recognizing the diverse cultural needs, experiences, and practices of local and global communities.
- Design marketing strategies to promote existing and new food enterprises, products and experiences using a variety of platforms appropriate to the target market.
- Develop business plans for sustainable food enterprises that strategically respond to evolving and changing market needs.
- Design innovative, creative and adaptive ideas and strategies for dynamic and ever-changing food tourism enterprises, products and experiences to ensure business competitiveness and sustainability.
- Select sales and customer service strategies and apply them to an enterprise's needs to ensure business long-term operational sustainability.
- Prepare and follow a plan for ongoing personal and professional development to establish and maintain entrepreneurial networking and business relationships and opportunities.
- Plan, implement and evaluate projects by applying management principles to support a small business's operation and administration.
- Select and implement risk management strategies to support all aspects of a small business operation.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
*Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of the programs starting in the Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
** Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2024. Tuition fees are subject to board approval. Material, student service and ancillary fees are estimated based on prior years. All fees are subject to change without notice. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information. This program is available for funding through our partnership with Passage, who provide student loans to qualified international student applicants. To find out more about this opportunity, and if you may qualify, visit our Passage page.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
A diploma or bachelor's degree in food and beverage management, hotel management, tourism and hospitality management, special event management, culinary management, culinary management – nutrition, business or a related area.
Applicants who do not meet the above requirements but who have experience in the industry may submit a resumé and be interviewed for consideration.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
COURSE EXEMPTIONS
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit our Transfer Credit Guide for more information.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English proficiency test results must test at the college level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for the program. In addition, applicants who are accepted based on work experience only will be required to take the English Admissions Assessment in order to evaluate the appropriate level of English language proficiency.
Please visit English Proficiency for more details.
Special Requirements
HEALTH POLICY
Students should be aware that various allergens, including nuts, dairy and shellfish, are routinely used in practice labs. Students should also note that George Brown College is sensitive to religious observances; however, while products purchased for consumption meet all provincial and federal regulations, they may not meet specific dietary laws related to halal and kosher foods.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
DOMESTIC STUDENT ADMISSIONS
For inquiries about domestic admission requirements, admission deadlines, or the admissions process, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@georgebrown.ca or visit the Admissions web page.
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page.
FINANCIAL/FEES
For inquiries about OSAP, bursaries, scholarships and other financial inquiries, please contact the Financial Aid Office at FinAid@georgebrown.ca or visit the Financial Aid web page.
Food Tourism Entrepreneurship (H417)
For general School of Hospitality and Tourism Management–related inquiries, please contact chcastudentsupport@georgebrown.ca.
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Visit Our Campus
Join us for an upcoming Discovery Day, where you will learn more about your area of interest, get a first-hand look at our facilities and meet with representatives from George Brown College.
Food Tourism Entrepreneurship Program (Postgraduate) (H417)
Program Description
Program Overview
The Food Tourism Entrepreneurship graduate certificate prepares graduates to create "tastes of place" experiences that support local economies by fostering relationships between stakeholders in agriculture, hospitality and tourism. Exploring the geography of food and beverage, students will learn to develop partnerships to communicate and market unique experiences that emphasize sustainability and transparency. Graduates may find career opportunities at local and international tourism attractions, culinary travel groups/associations, restaurants, wineries, breweries, cideries, distillers, agricultural destinations, destination marketing and development organizations, and government agencies, in roles such as culinary tourism program manager, marketing travel consultant and conference services manager.
Full Description
The Food Tourism Entrepreneurship program will prepare graduates to harness local economies and cultures of food and drink production and consumption and channel them into successful and resilient tourism “experience” enterprises. Geared toward diploma and degree graduates who want to specialize in food tourism development and entrepreneurship, this three-semester program builds on the strengths of George Brown's School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and our Chef School. Business graduates may also be interested in pathways in this field.
Students will learn to:
- Connect and work with businesses, communities and associations in municipal, regional, provincial, national and international locations.
- Support local economies by fostering relationships with stakeholders in agriculture, hospitality, tourism and agritourism.
- Bring creative entrepreneurship skills to the small and medium businesses that make up the food tourism sector.
- Continue to provide consumers with "taste of place" experiences that build on new business models and opportunities.
- Develop the partnerships and tools to generate, capture, communicate and market unique experiences that speak to consumer values of sustainability and traceability.
The first two semesters of this program each include six courses provided through hybrid delivery. The third semester includes three online hours of independent research projects per week, plus a work-integrated learning experience.
Note: George Brown College has adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative. As a result, we no longer have computer lab classrooms. For classes that require computers, students will need to bring their own laptops. Our Library Learning Commons offers open access computers as well as equipment that can be borrowed on a short-term basis. For more information, please contact The Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at chcastudentsupport@georgebrown.ca
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
The food tourism sector's return to the impressive growth and innovation of pre-pandemic years is going to be founded on creative entrepreneurship and local "taste of place" experiences that explore the geography of food and beverage in traditional and new ways. According to Destination Canada, Canadians spend $43 billion a year outside the country, while inbound visitors to Canada spend $22 billion. There is an immense opportunity within Canada and, as Marsha Walden, President and CEO of Destination Canada, has said, “If we could capture 25 per cent of that outbound revenue it would be a huge boost to our industry.” New enterprises that grow from the disruption of the global pandemic will be agile, local and will reinvent the way consumers connect with their culinary landscape.
Educational Pathways
This graduate certificate program is well suited to graduates of programs in hospitality, tourism, culinary arts, business or marketing, including:
- Baking and Pastry Arts Management (H113)
- Culinary Management (H100/H116)
- Culinary Management – Nutrition (H119)
- Food and Beverage Management – Restaurant Management (H132)
- Hotel Operations Management (H133)
- Event Planning (H141)
- Tourism and Hospitality Management (H130)
- a wide variety of business programs
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HOST 1165 | Gastronomy and Tastes of Place 1 |
| HOST 1166 | Entrepreneurship in Food Tourism |
| HOST 1167 | Leadership and Innovation in Food Tourism |
| HOST 1168 | Food Tourism Marketing |
| HOST 1169 | Circular Economy and Sustainable Chef |
| HOST 1170 | Global Tourism Management |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HOST 1211 | Gastronomy and Tastes of Place 2 |
| HOST 1212 | Event Planning in Food Tourism |
| HOST 1213 | Fundamentals of Wine and Beverage for Food Tourism |
| HOST 1214 | Food Writing and Social Media of Food |
| HOST 1215 | Sustainable Tourism and Ecopreneurship |
| HOST 1216 | Research Methods in Food Tourism |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course name |
|---|---|
| HOST 1303 | Special Topics in Food Tourism Entrepreneurship |
| HOST 1304 | Externship / Field Placement |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Research and assess local, national and global environments for food and beverage tourism opportunities that connect to local producers and provide tourists with authentic destination experiences.
- Develop sustainable food and beverage tourism products and experiences that equitably support the local environment and economy while recognizing the diverse cultural needs, experiences, and practices of local and global communities.
- Design marketing strategies to promote existing and new food enterprises, products and experiences using a variety of platforms appropriate to the target market.
- Develop business plans for sustainable food enterprises that strategically respond to evolving and changing market needs.
- Design innovative, creative and adaptive ideas and strategies for dynamic and ever-changing food tourism enterprises, products and experiences to ensure business competitiveness and sustainability.
- Select sales and customer service strategies and apply them to an enterprise's needs to ensure business long-term operational sustainability.
- Prepare and follow a plan for ongoing personal and professional development to establish and maintain entrepreneurial networking and business relationships and opportunities.
- Plan, implement and evaluate projects by applying management principles to support a small business's operation and administration.
- Select and implement risk management strategies to support all aspects of a small business operation.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
*Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of the programs starting in the Fall 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2023 and later dates.
** Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of the program starting in Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
A diploma or bachelor's degree in Food and Beverage Management, Hotel Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Special Event Management, Culinary Management, Culinary Management – Nutrition, Business or a related area.
Applicants who do not meet the above requirements but who have experience in the industry may submit a resumé and be interviewed for consideration.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
COURSE EXEMPTIONS
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit our Transfer Credit Guide for more information.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English proficiency test results must test at the college level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for the program. In addition, applicants who are accepted based on work experience only will be required to take the English Admissions Assessment in order to evaluate the appropriate level of English language proficiency.
Please visit English Proficiency for more details.
Special Requirements
HEALTH POLICY
Students should be aware that various allergens, including nuts, dairy and shellfish, are routinely used in practice labs. Students should also note that George Brown College is sensitive to religious observances; however, while products purchased for consumption meet all provincial and federal regulations, they may not meet specific dietary laws related to halal and kosher foods.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
DOMESTIC STUDENT ADMISSIONS
For inquiries about domestic admission requirements, admission deadlines, or the admissions process, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@georgebrown.ca or visit the Admissions web page.
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
FINANCIAL/FEES
For inquiries about OSAP, bursaries, scholarships and other financial inquiries, please contact the Financial Aid Office at FinAid@georgebrown.ca or visit the Financial Aid web page.
Food Tourism Entrepreneurship (H417)
For general School of Hospitality and Tourism Management–related inquiries, please contact chcastudentsupport@georgebrown.ca.
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Visit Our Campus
Join us for an upcoming Discovery Day, where you will learn more about your area of interest, get a first-hand look at our facilities and meet with representatives from George Brown College.
