One of the leading hospitality management programs in the United States is taking its act on the road--and overseas. UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration will celebrate the opening of the university's first international campus, UNLV Singapore, with a grand opening celebration on Wednesday, August 2 in Singapore.

Stuart Mann, dean of the hotel college, believes that growth in Asian tourism means certain success for this inaugural overseas program. "The proximity of Singapore to China and other Asian nations makes it the ideal place for our hospitality management programs, as Asian tourism increases dramatically over the next 10 to 20 years," he said. With the expected boom in the tourism sector in the area, there will be an increase in tourism employment opportunities. The courses offered at UNLV Singapore are expected to add to the options available for students who wish to join the tourism industry.

UNLV President David Ashley considers Singapore an ideal setting for the college's first international campus. "Singapore is a wonderful location for UNLV's campus," he said. "It's a place that is thriving, and support for tourism there is second to none. It's a very high-quality place with demanding expectations; UNLV students should really blossom in that environment."

The grand opening ceremony and celebration will feature traditional Singaporean performances, a luncheon and tours of the new facilities. Chancellor Jim Rogers and members of the Board of Regents are expected to join Dr. Ashley, Dean Mann and several Singaporean officials for the event. "It will be a celebration," said Mann. "It will be a celebration with the Singaporean government who has been unbelievably accommodating in helping us get this program up and going."

Earlier this year, the country's Ministry of Education approved UNLV Singapore formally as an institute of higher education. Now, UNLV Singapore is accepting applications for on-line enrollment in its first classes, scheduled to begin in September.

The 12,000 square foot campus is housed on the tenth and eleventh floors of the National Library of Singapore, a prestigious building comparable to the United States Library of Congress. The campus will offer bachelor's degree programs in hotel administration and hospitality management. UNLV Singapore is offering the college's upper division courses, which include Hotel Administration, Hospitality Marketing, Food & Beverage Management and Hotel Law. Students may also earn an executive master's degree in hospitality. Approximately 200 students are expected to enroll for fall 2006 classes. Many of these students will be on hand for the grand opening celebration.

**Editor's Note** Members of the media wishing to attend the grand opening in Singapore on August 2, please call 895-3102 for additional information. Video and interviews from the ceremony will be available for media unable to attend.