St. Petersburg College is updating its hospitality curriculum through a new partnership with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, aiming to better prepare students for careers in Florida’s growing tourism industry, according to a statement.
The redesigned Introduction to Hospitality course eliminates traditional textbooks and instead features interactive, locally focused content including videos, images and insights from industry leaders. Students will also engage directly with area employers and venues through hands-on experiences.
The course, open to both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students, will feature materials curated by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, modules addressing misconceptions about hospitality careers, local employer spotlights, scholarship opportunities and site visits to top venues such as The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach and The Don CeSar.
The partnership comes at a time of record growth in the local tourism economy. Pinellas County welcomed more than 15.4 million visitors in fiscal year 2024, generating an economic impact of $11.2 billion.
