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The hospitality industry constantly faces the challenge of identifying, recruiting, and retaining qualified and committed employees. The US government has recently proposed gainful employment legislation that would give the Department of Education (DOE) the authority to regulate for-profit colleges and certificate programs at not-for-profit institutions of higher learning, requiring them to meet minimum student debt ratios. These demands add to the pressure on hospitality college administrators to design courses and academic programming that not only prepare workers for their careers, but also reinforce student commitment towards working in a specific industry. This explanatory sequential research study was undertaken to investigate the influence a study tour course has on student commitment to the hospitality industry. Primary data collection methods included pre- and post-tour surveys of the 67 purposively selected study tour course participants and subsequent focus group interviews with participants recruited from that group. An analysis of the resultant data ensued to determine how completion of a study tour course influenced participants' levels of commitment to their chosen career path. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]