Hospitality Leader

Florida Keys Community College welcomed Andreea Mihalcea earlier this fall to lead its new Hospitality and Ecotourism Management program.  Originally from Romania, Ms. Mihalcea brings a breadth of global experiences in the hospitality field—ranging from sales, finance, and management to event planning, catering, and food and beverage management.

Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Bucharest in Romania, a master’s degree in Tourism and Events Management from the University of Bedfordshire in England, and a Hospitality Professional Certificate from the American Hospitality Academy.

Ms. Mihalcea came to the United States as part of the American Hospitality Academy’s international internship program in 2013.  During a one-year internship at the Casa Marina-Waldorf Astoria Resort, she experienced myriad aspects of resort operations, including customer and guest services, accounting, catering, and food and beverage management.  Upon conclusion of her internship, she chose to stay on the island to continue her career at several local resorts.

“Hospitality is interwoven into the fabric of our economy in the Keys.  Therefore, FKCC ‘s program focuses not only on helping our current hospitality professionals elevate their careers, but also on attracting the best prospective new students and future hospitality workforce to lead growth and enhance sustainability in our industry,” said Ms. Mihalcea.

The next semester of classes begins January 6.  For more information about FKCC’s Hospitality and Ecotourism Management program, contact Ms. Mihalcea at andreea.mihalcea@fkcc.edu or 305-809-3236, or visit www.fkcc.edu.

About FKCC’s Hospitality and Ecotourism Program:

FKCC’s Associate in Science in Hospitality & Ecotourism Management is a two-year degree comprised of 64 credits.  Coursework covers hospitality and business topics, such as: hotel and resort organizations, food and beverage management, guest experience, property management, as well as marketing and accounting.  To best serve today’s needs in the evolving industry, particularly in the Keys, FKCC has incorporated an emphasis on “green” tourism in the degree.  Students practice skills learned in the classroom and gain real-world experience through internships at hotels, resorts, restaurants, and caterers in the Keys.

In addition to the associate degree, FKCC also offers four hospitality certificates: Guest Services Specialist, Rooms Division Specialist, Rooms Division Operations, and Rooms Division Management.  Industry certifications through the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute are integrated into the courses’ curriculum, making each course immediately valuable.