Hospitality professional Tim Williams earned his master’s degree in tourism and hospitality management through our online program in 2022. When Tim started the program, he was working for hospitality and tourism leader Disneyland Resorts in Orlando. Thanks to support from his employer and Tim’s drive to accelerate his career, Tim applied to the online graduate program offered by the University of Florida’s Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management Department. His decision paid off in a big way when a new opportunity arose within the magical world of Disney.
Graduate Testimonial: Disney Pro Tim Williams
Tim shared the value of the program and his experiences in his own words:
When Disney first started Aspire [an employee education program], I knew I wanted to continue my education, but nothing that was offered caught my attention. About a year after the program, Aspire brought some of the universities on Disney property to showcase programs and it was then that the University of Florida grabbed my attention.
Realizing that they offered this program, I knew that I had to take advantage. I started in 2020, right when the COVID pandemic hit, and worried that Disney would stop paying for my education, but it was quite the opposite. They continued to pay, allowing me to fully engage in every class I took.
What I learned and the knowledge I gained was so instrumental in what was about to happen next. Once we came back from the pandemic and Disneyland opened once again, an opportunity came where I could become a Project Manager for Disney Vacation Club out here on the West Coast. Still needing a few more classes to finish, my leadership team loved what I was doing in this program, and it was key in my promotion into my new career path.
Now that I finished, I look back at all the resources I learned, and the knowledge that I gained directly from this program is a direct result of the position I am in now and the trajectory of where my career is going. I cannot thank Disney and the University of Florida enough, especially all the Hospitality & Tourism Department professors.
About the online Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
The 100% online, instructor-led Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management is designed for busy, working professionals or those just getting started in their careers. This program allows you to earn your degree and apply what you learn in the classroom to your current and future work environments. Using real data from top industry experts, graduate students develop resource-based views and comprehensive strategies for managing and leading tourism, hospitality and event organizations. Students will also obtain a holistic perspective of environmental concerns that impact visitation to sensitive areas, including how to build sustainable initiatives into a business model and how to use unique faculty-developed tools to better respond to these issues. Ignite your tourism, hospitality and event management career with our streamlined admissions process.
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