Unforgettable—that feeling is at the heart of the “experience economy.” Today’s consumers and travelers seek out enriching experiences that will leave them with a lasting impact.
With these expectations in mind, it’s up to the sport, tourism and hospitality industries to go beyond offering traditional services and instead create once-in-a-lifetime experiences that foster connection, all while driving economic growth and brand loyalty.
It’s this mindset that students at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) are developing.
First-year students at STHM are being prepared to immerse themselves in this newfound experience economy in the classroom and beyond. This mindset is showcased through the required first-year course “Foundations of Experience Design and Management.”
As Philadelphia gears up for hosting a myriad of events on the global and national stage in 2026 including the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star game, PGA Championship and the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence, courses like this show why STHM is the place to utilize an experiential event education!
“In this class, we teach students how to add the element of experience to any service because experience can drive the value of anything,” says Ashley Gardner, assistant professor at STHM.
“Students learn how to utilize AI and data to design experiences—building upon their decision-making, creativity and critical thinking skills,” Gardner continues.
The final project of this course results in students putting their learning into action by designing an experience of their choice within the sport, tourism and hospitality industries. Students must integrate several course concepts in their designed experience, which can be a new or existing event concept.
Some previous student projects have included experiences designed for the Super Bowl halftime festivities, NBA All-Star game, Temple homecoming tailgate, grand openings for restaurants, Liacouras Center concerts and hotel check-in.
All of these interactive experiences demonstrate to STHM students the fun and excitement within the sport, tourism and hospitality industries.
“Former guest speakers from Disney, NBA 2K and Sony Music provide a behind-the-scenes look into how creating unforgettable experiences has shaped their industries,” Garner says. “These experts also discuss interesting design and management career paths for STHM students.”
At the end of this 16-week course, STHM majors leave with their own unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impact on driving their career paths forward.