Choosing a Tourism and Hospitality Management degree means that you will generally deal with different people. You will certainly be more in tune with the needs of guests from all types of social and cultural backgrounds.
The existence of leisure and business travelers, makes this field of industry an ever-glowing one, always on the urge to show people the best parts of vibrant hospitality and tourism. And it has nothing to do with being seasonal, as some people might think. Even during recessionary periods, there are travelers and therefore, jobs for those who have a passion for people and service.
FREE RESOURCE
Download Our Free Guide to Jumpstarting Your Hospitality and Tourism Career
Discover all you need to know before you join the field.
What Is Hospitality Management?
Hospitality management is a detailed study of the hospitality industry. Greeting and meeting people solely is not rocket science! However, it gets more complicated when you’re in charge of their accommodation and administrative arrangements related to a hotel you’re managing. That’s why prior education is needed, and a degree in hospitality management helps you out!
What Can You Do with a Hospitality Degree?
The mission of a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management is to prepare students for managerial positions in the dynamic and increasingly global are of hospitality and tourism. This academic program helps them gain knowledge about the development of human resources in this field.
Through this journey, students learn how to think strategically and create their set of values regarding a hospitality setting. You can be part of many adventurous and exciting careers if you set your mind to get this specific degree. Read below to see how you can add more value to the world of hospitality management and tourism.
1. Travel Agent
Travel agents are the gurus of simplifying the process of planning a trip. They provide consultation services, special offers, and travel packages for people seeking a change of environment. Beyond that, they can book your flights, hotel rooms, cruises, rental cars, resort stays, or events. When they accept the details on their client’s travel plans, agents get to researching relevant information like weather conditions, required documents for the destination and safety regulations. Travel agents may be serving individuals, corporations, or both. Usually, they also specify in a specific aspect of traveling e.x leisure travel, business trips, but also location-specific journeys such as Europe or Asia.
2. Travel Attendants
Travel Attendants are the ones in charge to provide services for the safety and comfort of passengers in aircraft, ships, and railway sleeping cars. Apparently, 78 % of people working as travel attendants are female. However, don’t let gender stereotypes stop you from an amazing career you can achieve, considering airline travel is one of the largest tourism-related industries. The most famous job known in this area of hospitality is working as a flight attendant. Other hospitality management jobs related to travel attendance are:
- Cruise staff
- Ship captain
- Travel security
- Luggage porter
- Handicapped traveler aide
3. Lodging Managers
As a Lodging manager, you should ensure that guests on vacation or business travel have a pleasant experience at a hotel, motel, or other types of establishment with accommodations. To become a Lodging manager, you are expected to take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in hospitality or hotel management, an associate’s degree or a certificate in hotel management. Sometimes even a high school diploma combined with several years of experience working in a hotel can close the deal.
The downside of this profession is the long working hours and pressure. Hotels work 24 hours per day, even weekends, so be prepared for a schedule that may drain you out every once in a while.
4. Meeting, convention, and event planners
Do you think you could coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings? In that case, being an event planner is the job for you. These people arrange meeting locations, transportation, travel to attend events, and visit prospective meeting sites and other details. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for meeting, convention, and event planners was $49,370 on May 2018. The same source indicates that applicants with a bachelor’s degree in hotel or hospitality management are expected to have the best job opportunities. Intense competition is generally expected for most hospitality management jobs.
5. Food service managers
One of the most important industries out there. There is more to a restaurant or any food service industry than just serving food on the table. Considering how hard it is nowadays to maintain a regular clientele, restaurants are investing big time in their food service staff. Hospitality plays a major role in attracting people; therefore hospitality graduates have a secure future, specifically if they have some years of experience at the same time. These people are in charge to make special events out of simple dining experiences.
You may be working as a Restaurant Manager, Chef, Catering Coordinator, or Barista. Either way, the skills you need consist of great communication skills, sense of organization, and the ability to work under pressure. Yes, that may sound like a cliché, but the pressure is one of the perks of working within such a dynamic industry.
6. Holiday counselor
A travel counselor is a travel agent who has years of experience and who has also earned certification through a trade organization. What makes these professionals very much needed is their ability to advise clients on interesting vacation destinations and attractions. Employers often only require travel counselor applicants to have the equivalent of a high school diploma. However, most of them prefer to hire travel agents who have more industry-specific training. To become certified, individuals need to complete specified coursework and meet other requirements.
Interested in pursuing a degree?
Fill out the form and get all admission information you need regarding your chosen program.
7. Entertainment manager
Working in the entertainment provides one with limitless opportunities to travel and have tons of fun, nationally and internationally! While you’re traveling, you’re also going to be managing performances, events, artists, and entertainers. Theirs is a stressful and demanding job, but their project management and people skills often assist them in managing sufficiently. The work of an Entertainment Manager is closely related to working with parks, lodges, holiday venues, international organizations, international artistes, hotels, and other companies involved in the entertainment industry. Whereas their daily tasks include:
- Conducting research
- Handling publicity
- Working with agents
- Managing budgets
- Negotiating contracts and fees
- Booking performers
- Managing events
8. Restaurant manager
A restaurant manager is hired to oversee the restaurant and make sure that it is operating efficiently and profitably while maintaining its good reputation. Their responsibilities typically include:
- Taking responsibility for the restaurant’s business performance
- Planning and analyzing the restaurant’s sales levels and profitability
- Organizing marketing activities like promotional events or discounts
- Preparing reports at the end of the shift or week involving sales, staff control, and food control
- Creating and executing plans for sales, profit, and staff development
- Planning and coordinating menus
- Ensuring every staff member is working as a team
- Recruiting and training staff
- Responding to customer questions and complaints
- Meeting and greeting customers and organizing reservations
- Maintaining high standards of quality control, hygiene, and health and safety
- Checking stock levels, ordering supplies, and preparing cash drawers and petty cash
- Complying with licensing laws and other legal requirements
9. Executive chef
You can find executive chef positions in various settings like hotels, restaurants, and even cruise ships. They play an essential role in kitchen operations. Some of their responsibilities and duties include ordering and managing food supplies, ensuring food quality and safety, training staff, and planning menus. Their median wage is $53,380 per year, BLS reports.
10. Food and beverage director
A food and beverage director shares similar responsibilities as executive chefs; they are responsible for ensuring the quality of food and beverage, designing menus, and training staff. However, their duties go beyond kitchen management. These professionals also set service standards, manage front-of-house staff, and plan events. This job position usually requires candidates to have a hospitality management degree. Their median annual wage is more than $73,000 per year.
The University of the Potomac can help you succeed in this fascinating career field through our hospitality and tourism management degree. Students must complete two internships in the industry at the end of their Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management degree program. For more information on this major, contact us.
