New Immersive Learning Opportunities at SAIT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism

2025 marks the 75th anniversary for SAIT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, and it’s preparing for a bright future with big changes and improvements underway. 

The school’s John Ware building has undergone significant renovations over the past few years. The fully revitalized building is set to be completed in 2026 and will offer students more advanced immersive learning opportunities. SAIT has also partnered with two organizations in Banff to expand its offerings and create a new campus in the national park.  

SAIT’s new and updated facilities come at an exciting time in the tourism industry. Tourism is a key economic driver in Alberta, supporting employment across multiple sectors, and employment opportunities are set to increase with the new long-term provincial tourism strategy. The strategy aims to grow visitor revenues to $25 billion by 2035, placing a high demand for a skilled hospitality and tourism workforce. 

Positioned to deliver world-class training, the SAIT School of Hospitality and Tourism is recognized as the number one hospitality management school and the number one culinary school in Canada, and as one of the best hospitality schools in the world by CEOWORLD Magazine and QS World University Rankings. It will continue to shape the next generation of industry leaders, thanks to new expansions and renovations.

Bringing immersive learning to the next level

The John Ware Revitalization project is funded through a $41 million investment from the Government of Alberta and is enhancing the way students learn. Some key improvements include new study spaces designed to offer more student engagement opportunities and a new culinary campus. 

“It’s become this great space for the SAIT community and the community beyond,” says James Overall, dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism. “It really brings to life our model of education, which is all about immersive learning. This building personifies immersive learning.” 

When you enter the John Ware building, you find a student-run culinary market, bakery, butchery and even a travel centre. “All these things exist to bring student learning to life in a way that replicates the industry,” he explains. 

Opening this summer, the third level of the building will feature new state-of-the-art kitchens and bakeries. Surrounded by windows and flooded with natural light, students will study and practice culinary skills with cutting-edge technology and tools. The other significant upgrade is a completely reimagined and revitalized Highwood restaurant. It will feature an elevated bar — also serving as a student learning lab — along with a lounge and restaurant. 

New Banff campus on the horizon

SAIT has partnered with YWCA Banff and the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation, which contributed $30 million in funding, to establish a new campus for the School of Hospitality and Tourism in Banff. The campus enables SAIT to bring educational opportunities directly to the Banff and Bow Valley communities, helping ensure a future-ready workforce as it trains new and existing workers.

“What excites me is that all three organizations exist to be in service of the community, and we have different lanes, but we found this beautiful thing where all three of our lanes can overlap,” says Overall. “We each have a role to play in supporting a sustainable, healthy and thriving community.” 

Located in one of the top tourism destinations, the campus will deliver exceptional learning within a vibrant environment where hospitality abounds. The Banff campus is slated to open for fall classes in 2026. “The ability to be a part of ​​a community broadly perceived as one of the world’s most renowned tourism destinations and a part of the industry that surrounds that community is obviously incredibly compelling,” he says.

75 years of excellence

While the school is going through significant physical changes, the dedication to student learning remains the same. Overall says the new physical spaces are simply a backdrop to how student learning has always come to life at SAIT. 

“The biggest part of student learning is the connection between faculty and the students,” he says. “What really makes a great education is great learning environments and meaningful connection between teachers and students. For that, we’re extraordinarily grateful to have some of the best faculty in the world. It’s a huge part of why this school is ranked so highly.” 

To learn more about the SAIT School of Hospitality and Tourism, visit sait.ca/hospitality. 

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