Florida International University - School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Courses Offered and Course Description

HFT 3600
Hospitality Industry Law
A basic study of hotel, motel, and restaurant law emphasizing risk management, security, food and liquor service liability, employment law, civil rights and discrimination law, federal and state, and how they apply to public accommodations and employment. The student is introduced to the fundamental laws, rules and regulations applicable to the hospitality industry. A case study approach is used in conjunction with lectures that encourage student participation in class debate in order to develop an awareness and understanding of the legal challenges and problems confronting the managers and executives in policy and decision making and develop and implement reasonable procedures to deal with them.

HFT 4604
Employment Law For Hospitality Management
In order to operate and manage a hospitality business, it is essential that the operator or manager be familiar with the laws that establish the do's and don'ts of managing, hiring, and firing of employees. Failure to conform to these laws can result in devastating, ruinous damage awards being rendered against the hospitality employer. This course involves a study of the major federal statutes and some important state statutes dealing with employment. The federal statutes that will be studied include The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 as amended, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title II dealing with public accommodations, and Title VII dealing with the employer/employee relationships. The Americans with Disabilities Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, and The Immigration Reform Act, among others will be covered. Various state statutes will also be discussed as well as the resolution of conflicts between Federal and State Law.

Today, the fastest growing area of employer liability occurs as the result of the influx of legislation impacting on the employer/employee relationship. The primary concern for a company's liability has shifted from the old time tort actions for negligence to the area of employment law. Wage and hour claims and litigation involving minimum wage and overtime violations are made doubly damaging by the "Liquidated Damage Clause" contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Act also provides for the payment by the employer of the employee's reasonable cost of litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees. Is an exempt employee really exempt or has the employer fallen into the "Salary Trap"? What constitutes "Hours Worked"? What is a "Tip Credit"? How is it PROPERLY and LEGALLY claimed? What about tip reporting? What about liability for violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? What business activities do Title II and Title VII of the Act prohibit? What is sexual harassment? You certainly have heard a lot about it in the media, but do you know what it is? How can employers protect themselves from harassment claims? Is sexual harassment the only type of harassment prohibited by the law? What about religious, racial, and national origin harassment? What is the Americans with Disabilities Act all about? How about the Family and Medical Leave Act? All of these questions and more are addressed in this class. U.S. Department of Labor statistics clearly establish the rapid increase in employment law violation cases thereby making this course a must for hospitality employers.

HFT 4654
Financial and Legal Aspects of Real Estate Development in the Hospitality Industry
A study of the legal implications involved and the financial alternatives to be considered in the development of new hospitality properties or the remodeling and conversion of existing ones. Includes discussions of various business entities which could be used in development. Sole Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Sub Chapter S Corporations, Real Estate Trusts, etc. A study of the methods and sources of financing the relationship between owners and operators in management contracts, and franchisees and franchisors. An analysis of franchise and management contracts. Students will participate in the development of a fictitious property starting with the selection and acquisition of property. A discussion of the location elements to be considered in the selection of property. Analysis of zoning problems which may arise. A study of the relative merits of joining a franchise organization. How to select a management company. The employment and training of employees. The course will be taught using printed materials related to development of hospitality property, lectures by the professor and presentations by guest speakers addressing matters of interest to developers of hospitality properties. Students will do research on the issues that will influence their decisions relative to the development of the fictitious property and present the results in class. All students will actively participate in class presentations and will interact with guest speakers.

Biography

Elio C. Bellucci, J.D., is an educator, former trial lawyer, seminar leader, lecturer, author, and nationally recognized expert on hospitality law and laws as they apply to the hospitality industry. He is a consultant to the industry as well as an expert witness in litigation involving hospitality controversies or hospitality laws, industry standards of care, liquor liability, security, risk management, Title VII and state anti-discrimination cases, wage and hour laws, American With Disabilities Act, sexual harassment, and a host of other areas that vitally affect the hospitality industry.

Dr. Bellucci and his wife, Mary raised two daughter and have three grandchildren and two great grand daughters all of whole they love dearly.

Dr. Bellucci serves the University by his membership in various committees and other capacities. He served three terms as a member of the University's Faculty Senate and is currently a member of the University's Provost's Council of 51 as the representative of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is currently also a member of the University Graduate Council. He has served on the Sabbatical Committee and the Graduate Curriculum Committee as well as others.

Dr. Bellucci's service to the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is manifested also by the numerous committees that he is currently and has previously served on. He is currently the President of the Faculty Assembly Committee where his energetic and vigorous leadership has motivated the faculty to make noticeable strides in the advancement of our University and our School's interests. As the faculty president, he serves on the Dean's Advisory Committee; he is a member of our School's Management Team, the Graduate Curriculum Committee, and the Faculty Credentials Certification Committee. Dr. Bellucci is an Associate Editor of the "FIU Hospitality Review" and as such he is called upon to review, critique, and pass upon whether or not the article submitted meets the Review's standards for publication. He reviews eight to ten submissions per year. Dr. Bellucci founded the Chapters at both the Biscayne Bay and Broward campuses of the International Food Service Executive Association (I.F.S.E.A) as well as having served as faculty advisor to the Florida International University Student Chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives (N.A.C.E). He has served on the Biscayne Bay Campus Library Committee, the School's Constitutional Revision Committee, and the merit pay Committee as well as on T.I.P. Award committees. Also, he has served on Search and Screen Committees and has been a reader on many Graduate student industry projects.

Dr. Bellucci conducts a seminar at the beginning of each semester of the International Student and Scholarship Services, addressing the international student body and informing them of their rights while in the United States as well as certain legal pitfalls and how to avoid them. Dr. Bellucci established the Elio C. Bellucci Scholarship Fund into which royalties from certain publications of his are deposited and, in turn, are distributed to needy students.

Dr. Bellucci serves the hospitality industry with honor and distinction by his frequent speeches, seminars and presentations. He is much sought after and is an engaging and entertaining speaker. Dr. Bellucci is also prolific author who has a monthly column published in four industry Journals on a regular basis and periodically in several others. The titles and dates of publication of these articles and the names of the Journals are listed in Dr. Bellucci's vita contained in his application. Subscriber to these Journals are hotels, restaurants, cafes, lounges, bars, packages stores, and clubs and the articles serve to educate them as to how to avoid liability and legal entanglements in the industry.

| Curriculum Vita |