Hospitality is a broad industry with so many exciting possibilities for you to pursue. If you are interested in Hospitality management as a career, this article is all you could ever want to read.
A career is hospitality management is an alluring venture that incorporates so many entry-level roles. Nonetheless, a relevant educational background and serious commitment to continuous professional growth and increase in value is mandatory.
In this article put together by World Scholarship Forum, we’ll highlight all it takes to become a hospitality manager.
Meanwhile, take a look at our table of content for a summary of this article.
Who Is A Hospitality Manager?
A hospitality manager is one that oversees the administrative activities in a hotel, restaurant, or any other area of hospitality.
Hospitality management involves overseeing the administrative tasks of a hotel or resort. Your goal as a hospitality manager is to ensure your hotel is warm, welcoming, and makes guests feel like they’re at home.
According to oxfordhomestudy.com, hospitality management refers to the application of management concepts and structured leadership in the areas of accommodation, dining, and general guest services. From the largest hotels to the smallest cafeterias, all such businesses form an important part of the hospitality industry.
What Are The Duties Of A Hospitality Manager? Hotel Manager Job Description
Hospitality managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a hotel or restaurant, which includes managing personnel, ensuring guest satisfaction, and following the appropriate steps to ensure that the facilities are well-maintained.
They are also required to oversee the upkeep of financial and administrative records.
The core responsibilities of a hospitality manager solely depend on the distinct nature of the particular workspace and his/her job title. For example, an individual who works as a food service manager will hire and train new employees, as well as ensuring that their foodstuff is properly prepared and delivered.
They are involved in the financial and legal aspects of their establishment, including working closely with vendors. They are also responsible for investigating guest complaints.
On the other hand, a person who holds the title of lodging manager will have a completely different set of job duties.
Lodging managers work exclusively in the hotel industry. Just a few of their responsibilities include establishing room prices, coordinating the activities of the front office, hiring and firing of personnel, and keeping track of the budgets for different departments.
How Much Does A Hospitality Manager Earn?
According to indeed.com, the average salary for a hospitality manager is $49,429 per year in the United States and $120 tips per day. This number is estimated from over 409,324 employees, users past and present job advertisements.
The location and the nature of your work place also affects your monetary value. Additionally, your experience will come into play, as will your education. A degree in hospitality or hotel management can give you an edge, but a lack of one doesn’t preclude you from securing a good salary.
What Is The Job Outlook For Hospitality Management?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of hospitality management is expected to grow by 9% between 2014 and 2024. This growth rate is slightly faster than the national average for other professions.
This growth rate is projected to create approximately 4,800 job vacancies over the next decade, and there is a severe shortage of qualified individuals to meet the demand.
Furthermore, the BLS predicts that individuals with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality or hotel management are expected to have the best job opportunities, and graduates can expect stiff competition for available jobs.
There has never been a better time to get involved in the hospitality management profession.
How To Become A Hospitality Manager
To become a hospitality manager, you need an industry experience built on related knowledge competency gained from foundational learning. As the number of hospitality management job seekers increases, candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or a closely related field will be highly favored.
Hospitality management programs offer an excellent combination of on-the-job training and classroom lectures. Most accredited programs offer an abundance of co-ops and internships, including international options.
Undergraduate classes generally focus on management skills, accounting, food and beverage management, labor supervision, hospitality law, marketing, cost control, culinary arts, and management information systems.
Graduate students in the field of hospitality management will take more in-depth classes that focus on global issues in the hospitality industry, like organizational behavior and conflict management.
In addition to academic prowess, potential hospitality managers need to have practical knowledge of how the industry works.
Hospitality managers are also expected to excellent communication and problem-solving skills, leadership skills, and amazing customer service skills. These skills will help develop the ability of the hospitality manager to manage people and situations.
Most accredited Hospitality Management programs in the United States offer internships and other interactive, educational components to assist their students in gaining hands-on experience. These programs can be found at a diverse range of schools across the country.
Step by step process of how to become a hospitality manager
Step 1 – Earn your degree
One of the first steps to becoming A Hospitality manager is by earning your degree. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, most full-service hotels require their managers to have a minimum of bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or a closely related field.
Having at least a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or a related field exposes the student to courses like revenue management, facilities management, and food production management.
Most undergraduate programs demand students to complete a minimum number of hours in an internship before they are allowed to graduate. Internship opportunities are available domestically and abroad. These internships provide invaluable, hands-on experience working in a hospitality setting.
Master’s degree programs in hospitality management place an emphasis on the development of interpersonal leadership skills, like mediation and negotiation, group dynamics, crisis communication, and conflict resolution.
Alternatively, students can also choose to opt for a graduate certificate program in hospitality management or hospitality marketing. These graduate programs involve less work than earning a master’s degree and also serve as a push for career advancement.
Step 2 – Look for a training program
One of the best ways to create the right entrance into a career path is by gaining practical knowledge of the job.
Many national, full-service hotel chains now offer management training programs where candidates get on-the-job training in their chosen area of specialty. The eligibility requirements for these programs are strict, and they are competitive.
For instance, applicants may be required to hold a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management (or a closely related subject), have a minimum of six months of relevant work experience, and pass a written exam. The average length for this management training programs ranges from six to eighteen months.
During the course of the training, you will be exposed to the nitty-gritty of the profession ranging from office procedures, finance, food and beverage sales, hotel maintenance, housekeeping, revenue management, and human resources.
Step 3 – Search for entry jobs
After you must have gained the theoretical and practical knowledge of the business, the next step will be to search for preferred jobs in the hospitality field.
Securing an entry job gives you an opportunity to work with an employee and learn the basics of the job. Don’t forget, every work experience is an opportunity to continue learning: therefore, you have to give in your best if you want to work your way to the top.
Step 4 – Earn Professional Certifications
Now, this is optional. Nonetheless, a professional certification in a particular area of the study shows business or knowledge competence.
For example, if you plan to work in the food and beverage industry, you earn optional professional certifications through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Their certification as a Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) designates an individual as competent in the industry.
Those who wish to obtain this certification must meet the experience requirements, complete specific coursework, and pass a written exam.
Alternately, if you plan to work in a hotel, then earning the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) certification from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute would be a wise investment of your time and energy.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Hospitality and Tourism Management Degree?
While certificates in tourism or hospitality can be achieved in as little as two weeks, studying at a bachelor’s level usually takes three or four years. At a master’s level, studies will last one or two years.
At a bachelor’s level students will be introduced to the travel and leisure industry, learning basics in business administration and hospitality and tourism studies and important underlying theories. In the second or third year, students will often take their studies abroad to gain important practical knowledge in the industry. Degrees may conclude with a bachelor’s level project or thesis.
A master’s degree in hospitality and tourism focuses on a single track like sustainability, policymaking, or administration and management. These degree plans are often research-based and conclude with a master’s thesis.
How Much Does It Cost To Study Hospitality Management?
According to costowl.com:
- The average cost (tuition and fees) of a 2-year public school (associate’s degree), according to a report by the College Board, is $3,131.
- The College Board puts the average cost of a public four-year college (bachelor’s degree) at $8,655 per year (tuition and fees) for in-state students and $21,706 per year for out-of-state students.
- Tuition and fees at a private four-year institution cost an average of $29,056 per year.
- Earning a master’s degree in hospitality management starts at $10,000 to $35,000 but could cost as much as $80,000 to $90,000 depending on the institution.
- Financial aid, including loans and scholarships, is available to alleviate student debt burdens. Contact the financial aid department of individual schools to find out what is available. Learn more about getting money for higher education at the U.S. Department of Education website.
What Are The Skills Required To Be A Hospitality Manager?
To become a matchless hospitality manager, there should be identifiable traits inherent in you. Let’s take a look at the skills required to be a hospitality manager:
- Strong business skills
- Excellent customer service skills
- Great interpersonal skills
- Strong leadership skills
- Excellent listening skills
- Great organizational skills
- Strong problem solving skills
Do I Need Professional Certifications To Become A Hospitality Manager?
You do not have to have any professional certifications to become a hospitality manager; however, there are additional professional certifications that you can earn, that will boost your resume.
For instance, hotel managers can choose from several professional certifications from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. To be certified, there are specific experience and knowledge requirements that must be met.
Likewise, food and beverage managers can obtain optional professional certifications through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Their certification as a Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) designates an individual as competent in the industry.
To obtain any of the certifications, you need to meet the necessary experience requirements, complete specific coursework and pass a written exam.
Best Hospitality Management Schools
Here is the list of the best hospitality management schools in the world, their tuition fee, acceptance rate, and school website.
- Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, Switzerland
- School of Hotel Management, Cornell University, New York
- Oxford School of Hospitality Management (Oxford Brookes University)
- Hotelschool The Hague, the Netherlands
- Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston
- The School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University
- Pennsylvania State University – World Campus, State College, Pennsylvania
- Hospitality and Tourism Management Department, Isenberg School Of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Switzerland
- Hospitality and Tourism Management Department, Pamplin College Of Business, Virginia Tech
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What Kind of Jobs Can You Get With a Hospitality Management Degree?
Careers in Hospitality Management Degree
Since hospitality management covers a wide range of different sectors, the job opportunities are aplenty. Below are some examples of the hospitality careers you can pursue after getting a degree in this field:
- Resort or hotel manager
- Restaurant manager
- Food & Beverage Manager
- Catering manager
- Event planning
- Chef
- Concierge
- Marketing, sales and media roles
- Financial or accounting roles
Conclusion
There has never been a better time to get involved in the hospitality management profession. With the projected growth rate of 9% between 2014 and 2024 which is slightly faster than the national average for other professions, over 4,800 job vacancies will be created over the next decade.
FAQs On How To Become A Hospitality Manager
A hospitality manager is one that oversees the administrative activities in a hotel, restaurant or any other area of hospitality.
Hospitality managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a hotel or restaurant, which includes managing personnel, ensuring guest satisfaction, and following the appropriate steps to ensure that the facilities are well-maintained.
While certificates in tourism or hospitality can be achieved in as little as two weeks, studying at a bachelor’s level usually takes three or four years. At a master’s level, studies will last one or two years.
You do not have to have any professional certifications to become a hospitality manager; however, there are additional professional certifications that you can earn, that will boost your resume.
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