vcc.ca
HOSP 3203: Hospitality Business Law
Effective date
September 2026
Department
Hospitality Management App Deg
School
Hospitality, Food Studies and Applied Business
Description
This course introduces the legal principles of contracts, torts, agency, employment and labour laws, negotiable instruments, debt collection, business ownership, and consumer protection in Canada. It will provide students with an overview of the meaning, sources, and administration of business and hospitality law. The complexities of hospitality law and its concepts and regulations will be examined and evaluated.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
3rd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply Canadian law to hospitality business practices.
- Recognize legal issues as they arise in hospitality business situations.
- Create and carry out business practices to prevent legal problems.
- Discuss the impact of Employment Standards on the hospitality industry.
- Examine in detail the law of contracts, its principles and application to hospitality business situations.
- Identify the legal responsibilities of managers in the hospitality industry.
- Distinguish between common law and statutory law.
- Describe human rights legislation and discuss its implications for the hospitality industry.
- Describe applications of the Canadian Criminal Code to various hospitality situations.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
To learn more about the PLAR pathways for this course, review the Bachelor of Hospitality Management Program Content Guide.
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Instruction involves interactive lectures, presentations, group discussions, role plays, and peer feedback. Learning will be enhanced through a variety of interactive classroom and collaborative activities. The interactive and practical exercises give students the opportunity to take an active role and learn by doing.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
D (50%)
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Participation |
10% |
Preparation for class, active discussion, participation during class. |
|
Other |
30% |
Various case studies from real life situations |
|
Assignments |
30% |
Range of assignments on course concepts |
|
Other |
10% |
Group presentation on legal issues within a hospitality organization |
|
Final Exam |
20% |
|
Course topics
- Law of torts and contract. Human rights legislation. Rights and responsibilities of guests and innkeepers. Industry regulatory requirements and employment law. Constitutional law, common law and legislation, administrative law, criminal law Areas of liability in hospitality industry. Establishing a hospitality business; types of business organization, franchises, insurance, property leasing, forms of intellectual property. Labour Code issues Regulatory requirements of hotel/innkeeper statutes across Canada. Hospitality business regulations
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.