College of Business

News/Events

Sustainable Events Management Team Internship Program Kicks Off with Training for 2023 Cohort

The training for the 2023 SEMT Cohort began on campus at the SHM program on May 5th and commenced with the amazing experience of managing hospitality teams at The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

International Visitor Program Explores Ecotourism and Environmental Sustainability

On August 15, 2023, Dr. Paige Viren, Executive Director of the Sustainable Hospitality Management (SHM) program at California State University, Monterey Bay,  joined forces with Dawn Mathes-Park, a graduate student from the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration at California State University, Sacramento. Together, they presented to a cohort of 10 distinguished international visitors from El Salvador.

Scholarships Awarded To Sustainable Hospitality Management Program students

Congratulations to seven Hospitality program students on receiving 2023 CHLAF Scholarship awards and to one student on receiving the 2023 NEWH/SF Bay Area Chapter Scholarship.

Newly Minted Sustainable Hospitality Management Alum Joanne Rivera Arce Embarks on an Exciting Journey to Switzerland

We are thrilled to announce the exceptional achievement of Ms. Joanne Arce-Rivera, fondly known as Swiss Miss, as she sets out on a remarkable adventure at the esteemed César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland. Joanne, a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Hospitality Management, has been accepted into the Master's degree program in International Business in Entrepreneurship & Hospitality and Tourism.

California Travel Association Tourism Advocacy Day: SHM Executive Director Paige Viren Joins Forces to Boost California's Thriving Tourism Industry

Sacramento, CA - It was a day filled with excitement and purpose at the California Travel Association Tourism Advocacy Day as industry leaders and representatives convened to advocate for the state's flourishing tourism sector. Among the participants was Dr. Paige Viren, the executive director of the Sustainable Hospitality Management (SHM) program, who played a pivotal role in advancing the interests of California's travel industry. Read more.

Hospitality students on the Pebble Beach Special Events Management Team get hands-on experience at Concours d’Elegance

August 21, 2022 – Thank you to the world-renowned Pebble Beach Company for giving students from CSUMB’s Sustainable Hospitality Management program and the College of Business the opportunity to showcase their skills while managing a hospitality team at Concours d’Elegance on August 21st. As Hospitality Managers for the Pebble Beach Special Event Management Team (SEMT), students work directly with Pebble Beach representatives to manage, plan, coordinate, and oversee hospitality areas at the finest exhibition of show cars in the world. Team leaders' duties will include:

• Management and oversight of corporate clients
• Hosting VIP Guests at Corporate Hospitality Patios
• Overseeing food service and bar/beverage service
• Interacting with clients, servers, bartenders, and culinary individuals to ensure a flawless guest experience
• Managing Pebble Beach staff and temporary employees

Paige Viren Leads Climate Change Session at Adventure Travel Trade Association Conference

November 2021 – Tourism professionals gathering in person November 16 - 18, 2021 in Sedona, Arizona, for the ATTA’s AdventureELEVATE event, heard first-hand the results of a new global climate study in a special session led by Dr. Paige Viren, Executive Director of the Sustainable Hospitality Management Program at CSU Monterey Bay. In the session, Dr. Viren shared a sneak preview of the results of the first Global Study of Climate Action in Tourism. The study, led by the UNWTO in partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association and the group Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, provides a baseline for accelerating climate action in tourism. 

Dr. Viren and her colleague Dan Pilgreen guided the creation of the survey and quantitative analysis. The survey was completed by 1171 representatives from destinations, accommodation, transport, and tour experience providers in 131 countries and is expected to be released later this year. 

In the interactive session at AdventureELEVATE, Dr. Viren was joined by Ivan Eskildsen, the Minister of Tourism of Panama. Panama is a country whose adoption of a sustainable tourism Master Plan policy and commitment to climate action sets a benchmark for others to follow.  Mr. Eskildsen commented recently, “We are utilizing our five-year Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism as a roadmap for the decentralized development of the industry, and to reach the discerning traveler, a segment that has been quantified at over 500 million travelers worldwide, and growing at a fast pace. We’re reimagining our approach to sustainability through tourism by investing in our country’s vibrant and unique attributes while empowering local communities to help sustain our carbon-negative status. Panama is one of only three countries in the world to have reached this standing.”

The findings reveal that a large percentage of travel businesses lack a climate action strategy and are not measuring their emissions. This signals an important opportunity for businesses to advance their climate strategies, especially as signs of tourism’s strong recovery are clear.

Sustainable Hospitality Management Program Nationally Ranked by Study.com

February 25, 2021 - Study.com has ranked the Sustainable Hospitality Management Program at CSUMB's College of Business #37 in their list "2021 Best Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management." Hundreds of universities across the country were considered based on their academic and career resources, the quality of education, and faculty, among other criteria.

CSUMB Helps Hospitality Industry Get Back to Business

June 26, 2020 - Monterey County hotels and restaurants are reopening after months of closure because of the coronavirus. CSUMB’s Sustainable Hospitality Management Program in the College of Business (COB) is helping them get back to business safely and effectively.

Sustainable Hospitality Management Program Is Approved For Permanent Status

February 4th, 2020 － We are pleased to announce that the Sustainable Hospitality Management (SHM) program has been approved for permanent status, effective starting Fall 2020. The Program’s transition to permanent status means that its positive impact on the community will continue for years to come. According to Executive Director, Dr. John Avella, “The goal is to provide a degree that is both unique and meaningful." Read more.

Monterey Bay Sustainable Hospitality Summit

January 2019 – Emceed by MBEP President, Kate Roberts, the 2019 event featured Mayor Mato Frankovic of Dubrovnik, Croatia, who addressed “Sustainable Travel and Solutions to Over-tourism.” The two-day Summit featured a day of visits to view best practices in sustainable hospitality, ecotourism, eco-recreation and wellness at exemplary sites across the Tri-County region and a full day of inspiring and sharing best practices.

Sustainability with a Smile

January 2017 – Monterey Bay is at the forefront of Sustainable Hospitality thanks to CSUMB