Are you a people-oriented individual with a passion for thriving in a fast-paced environment? Look no further than the Tourism & Hospitality programs at College of the North Atlantic (CNA)! Tourism is a global giant, accounting for over 10 percent of all jobs worldwide and playing an essential role in our provincial and national economies. With hundreds of diverse career opportunities in the field and a growing demand for skilled workers, this sector is your gateway to a vibrant career.
Our programs are designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge required for success in this dynamic sector. We emphasize global perspectives, sustainability, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity, equity, inclusion and experiential learning opportunities to prepare you for the evolving landscape of tourism and hospitality.
Managing excellence.
Prepare for management and leadership roles in the major industry groups of the tourism sector: accommodations, food & beverage, recreation & entertainment, transportation and travel services with a Tourism & Hospitality Management diploma. The first year of this diploma is a common year with the Tourism & Hospitality Services certificate. In the second year of the program, you are further prepared for a career that may quickly lead to supervisory and management roles in the tourism sector.
The emphasis of this program is acquiring the necessary supervisory and management skills required in the global tourism sector The program provides you with practical, theoretical and experiential learning, field trips and two six-week field placements. You will attain the skills, competencies and attitudes necessary to manage expanding and increasingly sophisticated tourism operations. You have the opportunity to develop excellent teamwork, decision-making, critical thinking, communication and leadership skills throughout the program. You will also be exposed to marketing, human resources, law and risk management, leadership, events, accounting, tourism planning and development, hotel and food and beverage management methodologies, and a number of professional industry certifications.
With this diploma in your hands, you can pursue a variety of careers with a wide range of organizations, agencies and associations dedicated to tourism and hospitality such as government and non-government agencies, community and tourism development associations, and restaurants and hotels, while working as a destination developer, tour guide, event planner, foodservice manager, manager of a hotel or international resort, or employee for an airline, ferry service or cruise ship. You may also decide to take the entrepreneurial route and start you own business!
Program Highlights
- Complete the diploma program in person at the Prince Phillip Drive campus
- Train for a variety of career options in the tourism sector
- Current, industry relevant curriculum
- Participate in two six-week field placements
- Obtain professional industry certifications
- Gain a local and global perspective in the tourism sector
Did You Know?
- Tourism is highly inclusive – compared to other sectors, it employs a higher proportion of women, youth and newcomers.1
- The hospitality industry in Canada market size is estimated at USD 22.86 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 27.08 billion by 2029.2
- As many Canadians become more confident with travel, they are looking to catch up on much-delayed gatherings and vacations. This has fueled a surge in domestic travel.3
- Across all sectors, the tourism industry employs over 20,000 people in Newfoundland and Labrador, attributing to 9.4% of the provincial workforce.4
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[1] Government of Canada,
Government of Canada releases new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy - Canada.ca
[2] Mordor Intelligence,
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/hospitality-industry-in-canada
[3] Mordor Intelligence, Hospitality Industry in Canada - Statistics (mordorintelligence.com)
[4] Hospitality NL,
2023 Annual Report (hnl.ca)
OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Summarize the social, cultural and economic contributions of tourism to society.
- Meet the demands of the thriving tourism sector, equipped with a knowledge of its characteristics and modern trends.
- Communicate and engage with peers, supervisors, and customers, both in person and through digital channels.
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal and customer service skills in a professional and courteous manner.
- Engage in the progressively interconnected landscape of global tourism.
- Discuss the importance of serving a diverse clientele in a culturally sensitive manner.
- Contribute to the daily operations of a tourism and hospitality organization or business as a skilled team member.
- Foster responsible and eco-conscious tourism experiences using sustainable principles and practices.
- Contribute to the growth of the tourism sector.
- Adapt to emerging industry trends and developments in tourism and hospitality.
- Demonstrate leadership skills for supervisory and management roles within various industry groups.
- Engage with industry stakeholders to stay connected with the broader tourism and hospitality community.
- Pursue a wide range of career opportunities within tourism and hospitality and actively drive their continued and professional growth in the competitive global sector.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be prepared for employment in a variety of roles and entrepreneurial opportunities including, but not limited to:
- Accommodations - Front desk agent, front office manager, night auditor, concierge, banquet staff, housekeeping manager, sales & marketing, etc.
- Food & Beverage - Server, bartender, supervisor, host, restaurant manager, food service director, catering manager, sales, etc.
- Recreation and Entertainment - Heritage interpreter, tour guide, event coordinator, meeting planner, recreation director, etc.
- Transportation - Reservations, car rental agent, customer service agent, travel coordinator, etc.
- Travel Services - Tour operator, destination development specialists, travel writer, tourism marketing, fundraising & membership coordinator, social media coordinator, etc.
CERTIFICATIONS
Students in the Tourism & Hospitality Management diploma program will complete the following professional certifications during the program:
- Serve Responsible
- Service First
- Indigenous Cultural Diversity Training
- Emergency First Aid
- Nationally Recognized Food Handler Certificate program
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHIMIS)
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's Psychological Health and Safety for Workers certification program
- Opioid Poisoning Response Training
Note: Students should be aware that additional fees apply for the certifications.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for admission to the Tourism & Hospitality requires the applicant to meet one of the following four academic criteria:
1. High School
Provincial High School Graduation Diploma with a 60% average in eight Level 3000 credits or equivalent
2. Comprehensive Arts and Science (CAS) Transition
Comprehensive Arts and Science Transition Certificate
Effective Academic Year 2025 - 2026:
College Transition
College Transition Certificate
3. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with General College Profile (or Business-Related College Profile or Degree and Technical Profile) with an overall average pass mark of 60%.
4. Mature Student Requirements
Applicants who do not meet the education prerequisites for this program, are 19 years at the time of application and out of school for at least one year may be considered on an individual basis under the Mature Student Requirements; for more information regarding the Mature Student Requirements please refer to
Procedure AC-102-PR Admission.
International Applicants – English Proficiency
All international applicants must meet the College’s English language proficiency requirements for acceptance into regular programs. The College will accept these recognized tests of English language proficiency (TOEFL paper based 550, TOEFL Internet based 79, TOEFL computer based 213 or equivalent, IELTS Academic Test overall band score of 6.0, or Pearson PTE 53 or greater, etc.).
If a language proficiency test other than those referenced above was used, applicants can forward for assessment.
If an international applicant has attended an educational institution (high school or post-secondary) for a period of three years or more where the official language of instruction was English, the English language proficiency test will not be required.
Note: Some programs may require specific English language requirements and proficiency scores that differ from those stated above; therefore international applicants are advised to please refer to the specific program admission requirements as identified in the College Calendar.
PLEASE NOTE: Basic computer literacy skills, as well as strong core skills in English and Mathematics are definite assets for this program. These skills are important for success in the program.
PROGRAM TRANSFERABILITY
The Tourism and Hospitality program offers exit points after Year 1 and Year 2:
* Students can graduate at the end of Year 1 with a Tourism and Hospitality Services Certificate.
* Students graduate at the end of Year 2 with a Tourism and Hospitality Management Diploma.