Leeds Met announced first Centre of Excellence for Tourism

Leeds Metropolitan was given a major boost when it was announced to be the first university in the UK to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Tourism.

Awarded by the Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT) - the UK's leading professional body for the tourism industry -  this new status means that students, industry and stakeholders can benefit from the high level of teaching, research and consultancy provided by the university.

Recently announced at the Institute of Travel & Tourism annual conference in Spain, the Chair of ITT's Education Committee, Claire Steiner commented:

"This initiative enables us to acknowledge those universities who are leading the way in travel and tourism education. It is a rigorous and demanding application process and Leeds Metropolitan are to be congratulated on their achievement. The ITT are delighted to welcome them as the first Centre of Excellence."

This new status establishes Leeds Metropolitan as one of the leading international providers of travel and tourism education and research, which is taught by one of the largest groupings of specialist academic and research staff in Europe.

Leeds Met and the ITT will also launch a new executive programme this autumn that will offer finance training to executives in the tourism industry.

David Hind, Subject Group Leader for Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan said: "It is a tremendous honour for the University to receive Centre of Excellence status. We work very closely with the travel and tourism industry to ensure that our students are well prepared for careers in the industry, and this accolade will further endorse the quality of a tourism degree from Leeds Metropolitan University."

See Leeds Metropolitan tourism courses.