From Miami to the World: How FIU is Transforming Hospitality Education
When Francesco Basso spent countless hours in Florida International University’s beverage lab perfecting what he hoped would be the ultimate coffee cocktail for a student competition, he never imagined where that creation would take him. Just months later, he found himself at a production facility helping bottle it, then serving that very same cocktail to guests at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival®, one of the largest wine and food festivals in the world.
Today, Francesco, or Chezco as his friends call him, is finishing up his bachelor’s degree at FIU and preparing to continue into his master’s. His journey captures something essential about our program: when learning is hands-on and connected to industry, the distance between classroom and career becomes very short.
At FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, students don’t just study hospitality — they live it. From crafting signature cocktails in state-of-the-art labs to designing luxury cruise experiences, our students are immersed in the fast-paced, high-energy world they’re preparing to lead. This hands-on approach ensures they graduate not only with knowledge, but with real-world experience, industry connections and the confidence to lead from day one.
As the Chaplin School continues to rise in global standings (now ranked by QS World University Rankings as the best hospitality program in Florida, third-best hospitality program among U.S. public universities and 23rd globally), it’s clear that our approach to bringing hospitality education to life through real-world and hands-on learning is redefining excellence in the field.
Miami: The Ultimate Learning Laboratory
What sets the Chaplin School apart begins with our location. While many hospitality programs offer simulated environments, our students step directly into Miami, the ultimate hospitality laboratory. Our students don’t just read about mega events; they help plan and execute them. They don’t just discuss cruise line operations; they learn from experts in the cruise capital of the world and can even take classes at sea.
This immersive approach to education is most prominently exemplified through our connection with the South Beach Wine & Food Festival®, what we call the world’s largest hands-on learning classroom. What began as a modest one-day event, the Florida Extravaganza, on our Biscayne Bay Campus in 1997 has evolved into America’s premier gourmet gathering, now welcoming over 65,000 guests each year.
Perhaps most significantly, SOBEWFF® has raised over $45 million for the Chaplin School — funding transformative spaces like the Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory, the Badia Spices Food Production Lab, the Bacardi Center of Excellence and the Vidal-Duart Wine Studies Program in the Jay W. Weiss Wine and Spirits Laboratory. But its greatest return is in student opportunity: each year, more than 1,500 students gain hands-on experience producing a world-class event, translating to stronger resumes, faster job placement and higher starting salaries.
Pioneering Programs for Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Chaplin School has consistently demonstrated an ability to anticipate industry needs and develop innovative programs in response. Our world-first master’s degree specialization in Cruise Line Operations and bachelor’s degree is a perfect example. Recognizing Miami’s position as the cruise capital of the world, we developed a program that leverages our deep industry connections to prepare students for leadership roles in this rapidly growing sector.
Similarly, our expertise in mega events management allows students to gain hands-on experience with Formula One, FIFA, Art Basel and Ultra Music Festival right in our backyard. This experiential approach to learning is complemented by cutting-edge facilities, including our beer lab, wine lab and student-run FIU Bistro.
Alumna Samantha Wagner is a shining example of how taking advantage of these opportunities and facilities while in school lead to careers after it. Samantha volunteered or worked more than a dozen events through the Chaplin School. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management in 2023 and her master’s degree in 2025, she is now working as a senior workforce coordinator for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Another unique attribute is our wide variety of student backgrounds. Our students represent more than 74 countries, bringing global perspectives to our classrooms and taking FIU’s reputation for excellence worldwide upon graduation. We graduate more undergraduate Black, Hispanic and international students than any other hospitality school in the nation.
Our graduates have managed real events, solved real problems and built real professional networks before receiving their diplomas. This explains why our graduates are securing positions at prestigious organizations and often earning higher starting salaries compared to graduates from other Florida university hospitality programs.
Industry Impact and Economic Significance
The hospitality and tourism industry are vital to Florida’s economy, and the Chaplin School plays a crucial role in ensuring its continued growth and success. Our partnerships with more than 100 hospitality employers create direct pipelines to career opportunities for our students while providing the industry with well-prepared professionals who can hit the ground running.
The economic impact of our work extends beyond campus. SOBEWFF® alone generates more than $31 million annually for Miami-Dade County, supporting over 6,200 jobs and generating nearly $1 million in local taxes. But perhaps more importantly, we’re helping to position South Florida as a global leader in hospitality innovation and excellence.
A Vision for the Future
As we look ahead, the Chaplin School remains committed to setting the global standard for experiential education in hospitality. We have implemented a strategic plan to further strengthen our position among the world’s elite hospitality programs by continuing to innovate, expanding our industry partnerships, and ensuring that our curriculum remains at the cutting edge of industry needs.
The future of hospitality education isn’t found in textbooks. It’s found in experiences. It’s found in relationships with industry leaders. It’s found in solving real problems in real time. And it’s found at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, where we don’t just teach hospitality, we bring it to life.
For industry leaders looking to partner with the next generation of hospitality innovators, I invite you to connect with us and discover how the Chaplin School can help address your organization’s challenges while providing unmatched opportunities for our students. Together, we can ensure that South Florida remains at the forefront of hospitality excellence for generations to come.
Dr. Michael Cheng is the Dean and a Professor at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.