PHILADELPHIA- Rack up another “first” for the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA). As confirmed at HAMA s Fall 2000 meeting here, the organization working with faculty members at the University of Denver has formally established “asset management” as a Masters-level course of study.
Beginning in the fall of 2001, Hospitality Property Development & Asset Management will be offered as an “MBA with a specialization” on the curriculum of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management division of the Daniels College of Business.
According to Dr. Peter Rainsford, department director at the Colorado institution and supported by HAMA Past-President Michelle Russo of Deutsche Banc Alex Brown, this offering would mark the first time asset management per se has been specifically offered within the country s halls of higher learning.
“At HAMA, we re used to measuring our progress one small step at a time,” Russo said, but noted that this accomplishment essentially represented something more along the lines of a great leap forward for the seven-year-old organization. (9/21/00) Michael Billig