RMS, a global leader in hospitality technology, has partnered with SUNY Niagara's Hospitality Management Programme to embed its property management system directly into the academic curriculum. The collaboration, based at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, is designed to equip students with hands-on experience using the same technology deployed by hotels worldwide.
Under the partnership, students enrolled in the Hospitality Management degree will work with the RMS platform across multiple semesters, covering core operational areas including reservations, front desk management, housekeeping, sales, revenue management, and reporting. The integration is part of a broader revamp of SUNY Niagara's programme, which now includes dedicated Hotel Operations courses that simulate real-world workflows.
Bridging Education and Industry Technology
Adam Seskis, CEO of RMS, stressed the importance of early technology exposure in hospitality education. "Hospitality is advancing quickly, and the next generation of talent needs to understand the technology at the centre of modern operations. A property management system is the operational heart of any hospitality business, so early exposure to these systems is crucial," he said.
Daniel DiPirro, Hospitality Management Professor at SUNY Niagara, highlighted the programme's commitment to experiential learning, supported by a Statler Foundation Grant. "We are excited to partner with RMS to provide our students with industry-leading hospitality technology. Our programme prioritises experiential learning, complementing our student-run restaurant, Savor, and bake shop, La Patisserie," DiPirro noted.
The curriculum now blends classroom instruction with practical application, allowing students to manage simulated hotel operations using RMS's cloud-based platform. This approach mirrors the technology stack used by major hotel groups such as Marriott, Hilton, and Accor, as well as independent properties and outdoor hospitality operators.
Beyond core hotel operations, the partnership exposes students to diverse sectors within hospitality, including outdoor hospitality management—a growing segment that includes glamping resorts, RV parks, and eco-lodges. This breadth of exposure is intended to broaden career pathways for graduates entering a rapidly digitising industry.
The move aligns with broader industry trends where Access Hospitality Debuts AI Layer to Unify Hotel Data at HITEC 2026, reflecting the increasing reliance on integrated technology platforms to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences. Similarly, events like Hospitality Asia's 6th Malaysia Conference: Three Summits Tackle Investment, Design, Revenue underscore the industry's focus on technology-driven efficiency and revenue optimisation.
For travel professionals—whether hoteliers, tour operators, or travel-tech vendors—the partnership signals a growing emphasis on workforce readiness. As properties from boutique inns to large-scale resorts adopt sophisticated PMS and revenue management tools, the demand for graduates who can hit the ground running is intensifying.
SUNY Niagara's programme, already known for its student-run restaurant and bake shop, now adds a technology layer that prepares students for the operational realities of modern hospitality. With RMS embedded in the curriculum, the institution aims to produce graduates who not only understand hospitality theory but can also navigate the digital tools that drive today's hotel businesses.
This initiative also reflects a broader shift in hospitality education, where partnerships with technology vendors are becoming more common. Similar collaborations have been seen with companies like Oracle Hospitality, Duetto, and SiteMinder, as universities seek to align curricula with industry needs.
For RMS, the partnership serves as a pipeline for future talent familiar with its platform, potentially easing onboarding for hotels that deploy its system. For SUNY Niagara, it ensures that students leave with a competitive edge in a job market that increasingly values technical proficiency alongside soft skills.
As the hospitality industry continues to digitise, initiatives like this one are likely to become more prevalent, bridging the gap between academic training and real-world operational demands.
