September 16, 2025

Hospitality, restaurant and tourism management program celebrating new space

Students fill in the new classroom inside the Scarlet Hotel at Nebraska Innovation Campus.
Loren Rye | Education and Human Sciences

Loren Rye | Education and Human Sciences
Students listen during a class in the new space at The Scarlet Hotel.

The hospitality, restaurant and tourism management program in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Education and Human Sciences is hosting a public open house to celebrate its new space at The Scarlet Hotel from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 19.

The event includes a short program beginning at 2:30 p.m., with remarks from Ajai Ammachathram, program director and associate professor in nutrition and health sciences; Ioan Baciu, the hotel's general manager; and other representatives from the college.

The new space features an active learning classroom with room for 100 people, as well as faculty and staff offices, a small conference room and student study spaces. Located in the southwest corner of the hotel, the 10,000-square-foot academic space connects with the lobby near the Good Life Coffee shop.

“This space represents a bold step forward in how we prepare future hospitality leaders, aligning us with some of the top hospitality programs around the world,” Ammachathram said. “It blends innovation, collaboration and real-world experience in a dynamic and inspiring environment.”

The classroom and offices were completed as part of Phase I of the construction project with funding by a grant from the Economic Development Administration and a gift from Dean and Jessie Rasmussen. Phase II will include the completion of a state of-the-art 3,000-square-foot commercial teaching kitchen on the west side of the academic space. Fundraising for Phase II is ongoing through the University of Nebraska Foundation. Learn more online.

The Scarlet Hotel now houses a classroom and office space for the hospitality, restaurant and tourism management program.