The Hogans, owners of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays and numerous other travel-related businesses, will provide financial support that amounts to as much as $3 million, and industry expertise for the new program.

Shown here signing the agreement to establish the four-year degree curriculum are Rev. Thomas P. O'Malley, S.J., president of LMU (left), along with Ed & Lynn Hogan at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif. (Business Wire photo)

"This program, for which we are most grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Hogan, will offer students a great opportunity to receive the education and training they need to enter into one of the fastest- growing industries in the world," said Rev. Thomas P. O'Malley, S.J., president of LMU. The program will prepare students for entry-level management positions in the travel industry.  Internships will be offered for students to gain first-hand knowledge in the field.

Other opportunities, such as study abroad and exchange programs, will be available to further enhance the learning experience.  The Hogan Family Foundation will also provide scholarships to qualified students.

Long-time supporters of LMU, the Hogans have previously donated $1 million for Hogan Hall, which is located in the Fritz B. Burns Fine Arts Complex at the University.  Ed Hogan has also served on LMU's Board of Trustees for nine years.

"We're glad to be partners with LMU in this endeavor," said Hogan.  "The new travel and tourism program will add to the University's reputation as one of the finest centers of higher education in the country.  More than 300,000 executives will be needed in the travel business by the year 2005.  Because the industry has been so very good to us, we decided to do something to help meet these future demands."

Hogan stated that travel-related business represents the largest industry in the world, employing 262 million people, with sales of $3.8 trillion.  The World Travel  Tourism Council estimates that over the next five years U.S. travel and tourism will grow 40 percent and over the next ten years two million new jobs will be created to employ 16 million in the industry in the United States alone.

The Hogan Family Foundation's Pleasant Travel  Tourism Institute will fund the LMU program.  The program will be guided by a Tourism Studies Program Advisory Council, whose initial members will include the Hogans and LMU Academic Vice President Joseph Jabbra.  Ed Hogan will serve as chairman.

The council will also draw on the experience of Dieter Huckestein, president of hotel operations for the Hilton Hotel Co.; Joseph Cappy, chairman of Dollar-Thrifty Automotive Group; Thomas McKernan, president/CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California; Don Daly, retired senior vice president of American Express; John J. Toner, general manager of The Ritz Carlton Kapalua Hawaii; and William La Macchia, president of the Mark Travel Corp.