Recognizing South Florida’s unique combination of professional sports programs and its market position as a tourism destination, St. Thomas University announced it is expanding its well-known Sports Administration Program to include programs in Sports Tourism. The new programs are possible through a gift from Arthur H. Hertz, the Chairman and CEO of Wometco. A long-time business and civic leader, Hertz has been President of the Orange Bowl Committee, Chair of Visit Florida and Chairman of the Public Health Trust, among many other local business and philanthropic organizations. His $500,000 donation and vision allows St. Thomas to expand its Sports Administration Program through the Arthur H. Hertz Endowed Professorship in Sports Tourism at St. Thomas University.
The St. Thomas University Sports Administration Program is one of the oldest programs in the nation. With close to 1700 successful alumni, the STU Sports Administration Program counts amongst its graduates 150 top level sports industry executives and more than 50 university athletic directors.
According to Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal, the sports industry is the sixth largest in the nation and Sports Tourism is the fastest growing sector in the global travel and tourism industry, accounting in 2010 for +14% of overall travel and tourism receipts (World Sport Destination Expo).
