The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in hospitality management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Named after William F. Harrah, the founder of Harrah's Entertainment, the school is highly ranked in national and international surveys of hospitality programs. In 2017 and 2018, the college was ranked number one in the world for hospitality and leisure by QS World University Rankings. The Harrah Hospitality College partners with major hospitality brands around the world to provide students with opportunities for industry engagement. Each year, an average of 150 hospitality executives participate in the college’s student mentor program, approximately 600 students participate in internships, and 100 hospitality organizations visit campus to recruit students into full-time professional positions. Located 1.5 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Of UNLV’s nearly 30,000 students, an average of 2,500 students are enrolled in the Harrah Hotel College, 22% of which are international students. Of the college’s 15,000 alumni, 50% reside outside of Las Vegas. Notable alumni include Guy Fieri, William Hornbuckle, Randall Cunningham, and George Maloof. Since 1974, the college has been involved in a world-known annual wine and food event known as UNLVino, which serves to generate scholarships for students of the college. With the support of long-time co-sponsor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, UNLVino has branched out into three separate concepts events, attracting thousands of attendees.
History
UNLV's hotel management program began in 1967, when the school was called Nevada Southern University. By 1969, the program had become the College of Hotel Administration, and in 1989 the college was officially named for William F. Harrah, in recognition of a $5 million gift from his widow. In 2007, the college received a $2.5 million gift from Caesar's Entertainment, which in 2005 had been acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment, toward the construction of a hospitality-focused academic building on the UNLV campus. Fundraising for the building subsequently stalled due to a nationwide economic downturn. In 2013-14, the College of Hospitality revived the long-delayed project and began fundraising for —a 93,500 square feet academic facility with some 10 classroom spaces, a café, meeting and event space, and a 2,800 square-foot learning kitchen. Joining Caesar’s as Hospitality Hall “Founders” were Las Vegas Sands, Konami Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Boyd Gaming Corporation, Stations Casinos, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, and the Engelstad Family Foundation. Founders’ gifts, along with additional industry partner donations, have helped the Harrah College of Hospitality move closer to its private funding goal. Matching funds by the State of Nevada also helped construction move forward. The building opened in January 2018.
