Hotel and conference center owned and operated by university; issuance of class B hotel license; conditions; limitation; “hospitality program” defined.

(1) Notwithstanding section 501 and subject to the quota system under this act, the commission may issue a class B hotel license to a hotel and conference center owned and operated by a university meeting at least all of the following: (a) Contains a hotel with at least 150 guest rooms. (b) Has a restaurant seating at least 125 guests that serves a full-menu breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (c) Has over 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. (d) Is open year-round to provide services to the public and to serve the mission of the hospitality program. (e) Has a hospitality program providing at least all of the following at the site of the hotel and conference center as part of that program: (i) Student education classrooms. (ii) A working hospitality laboratory setting. (iii) Utilization of rotational interns each semester or equivalent time period. (2) In public areas of the hotel and conference center, the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor is limited to table service only unless the public areas are reserved for private functions. (3) As used in this section, "hospitality program" means a course of academic study that, at a minimum, is a nationally accredited program at baccalaureate and graduate levels in the hospitality business that requires at least 120 semester credits or the equivalent for completion of the baccalaureate degree and that has a teaching and research staff predominated by individuals with at least doctoral degrees.