How to secure your dream career in Hospitality Management

30 Jul 2019

A degree in Hospitality Management unlocks several opportunities for those who wish to work in the hospitality sector.

Since it’s such a broad field, graduates have plenty of career options, choosing to work in hotel management, airlines, restaurants, event venues, and more.

A hospitality management degree grants students the in-depth understanding of the hospitality industry, but it’s also ideal for those who intend to start their own business in this sector.

Not only do you get to know the ins and outs of the industry, you also develop important skills in people management, leadership, finance and marketing, teamwork, and communication.

It’s a solid career choice because people are relying on hospitality services now more than ever. The younger generation are staying and eating at home less but travelling more, meaning that the food and beverage industry, along with the hotel and airline industry, are booming.

Over the past decade, the travel and tourism industry also got a boost from new eCommerce players in the market.

Websites and apps like Booking.com and AirBnB provide healthy competition among travel specialists, so consumers have much cheaper options for travel.

According to Deloitte, “A strong economy, rising global consumer purchasing power, and digital innovation have all fueled record growth in the travel and hospitality industry.”

Although automation technology will make the lower-paying jobs in hospitality (such as dishwashing) increasingly rare, there will be an increased need for hospitality managers and leaders to take control of teams and take the business to greater heights.

Those who dream about a career where they can travel or work internationally can achieve it with a hospitality degree, as they can work with international hotel or restaurant chains or even the airline industry.

Here are four programmes in the US that offer an excellent hospitality education, providing a strong foundation for those interested in working in Hospitality Management.

THE SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY BUSINESS – MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

As the first hospitality programme within a college of business and the second oldest programme in the country, this School holds a strong reputation as a pioneer in providing students with a hospitality-focused business education.

Undergraduate students earn a highly versatile, industry-focused Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business degree with a rigorous and relevant curriculum.

The curriculum draws from three areas of study: general education, business and hospitality. Students can also select to minor in Hospitality Business Real Estate Investment Management.

Students learn from experienced faculty members who have significant hospitality work experience in addition to their academic credentials.

The School also supports students with their future careers, providing academic and career services for advice and support. Its most recent job placement rate is 94 percent overall, with 98 percent placement for domestic students.

Graduates leave well-equipped to face the challenges of this ever-changing industry, including operations, management, finance, accounting, marketing, human resources, information systems, law, production, facilities and emerging industry trends.

SCHOOL OF HOTEL ADMINISTRATION – CORNELL UNIVERSITY

The School of Hotel Administration (SHA) at Cornell University provides a groundbreaking, industry-relevant hospitality business education.

As part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, SHA is a world-renowned hub for teaching, researching, and facilitating connections through the business of hospitality.

Programmes here are designed to teach students to embody characteristics that will help them succeed as leaders in the hospitality industry, such as poise, charisma, emotional intelligence and a sincere desire to make customers and clients happy.

It does so through experiential learning that goes hand-in-hand with rigorous classroom training.

Students can also reap the benefits of the deep industry connections at the school, as they can engage with successful entrepreneurs, high-level executives, global thought leaders and a seasoned alumni network.

Plus, SHA has an experienced faculty of effective teachers, resourceful researchers, compassionate advisors and service-minded experts, who also serve as valuable student advisors.

HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT – VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY (VIRGINIA TECH)

The Hospitality and Tourism Management programme at Virginia Tech prepares students for exciting management positions in the global hospitality and tourism industry.

There are plenty of experiential learning opportunities on offer, such as internships, field studies, experienced faculty, and frequent interaction with industry experts.

Students in the programme earn a broad business education in hospitality and can specialise in courses such as event management, hospitality finance, catering and restaurant management, tourism destination management, franchising, revenue management, international business, data analytics and security, and lodging operations.

Learners graduate well-equipped with the relevant skills needed to succeed in the field, including market analysis, real-time decision making, leadership and communication.

There are also flexible options depending on a student’s professional goal, such as opportunities to double major with other business or real estate majors.

SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT – FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY

The Hospitality and Tourism Management programme here is the oldest of its kind in the New York metropolitan area, as well as being one of the oldest in the United States.

The school has two main New Jersey campuses in Teaneck and Madison, and five off-site locations at Atlantic City, Jersey City, Mercer County, Ocean County, and Wyndham International in Parsippany. There is also an international campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Programmes in the school make use of the industrial and educational opportunities presented by the area, preparing students for sustainable career paths in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Every year, the school receives over 700 intern and career track job opportunities for students, both locally and internationally.

Over the years, the school has developed a broad network of programmes and partnerships with schools and universities in Europe, South America and Asia. As such, students gain access to an array of international hospitality and tourism educational experiences.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International