What careers are available
to
hospitality graduates?
Many hospitality graduates go on to work in hotels; but what you learn with a hospitality business degree is transferable across a huge range of other industries.
Learn about the extraordinarily diverse range of career paths available to hospitality management graduates, together with tips and advice to make your career journey successful and rewarding.
Many hospitality graduates go on to work in hotels; but what you learn with a hospitality business degree is transferable across a huge range of other industries.
- Katharina Resch, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Red Bull (MBA graduate)
Learn more about hospitality careers
Equip yourself with the expertise, ability and international network to take your leadership career to the highest level, in hospitality and beyond.
The simple answer is yes!
The international hotel industry is huge. And it’s still growing fast, with total hotel stock forecast to grow by 10,000 between 2021 and 2023. This will create up to 200,000 new hotel management positions, given the fact that a hotel requires on average between 15 and 20 managerial staff.
Hotel capacity, by segment – 2020 – 24F
Millions of hotel rooms
Total spend on travel and tourism industry -2017-25F
CHF Billions
The same positive picture emerges when looking at the global travel and tourism industry’s prospects for the next few years.
There’s no doubt that the industry took a significant hit during the worst phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the chart shows, however, the bounce back is already under way, with expert forecasters predicting that total spend will have recovered to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. And from there, the predicted trend is up and up!
How do I get into hospitality with no experience?
There are – of course – entry points to most industries at the lower, unskilled end of the spectrum. Hospitality is no different. But it is a long way up from there.
Bachelor graduates from hospitality management schools have an obvious advantage; not just in the knowledge they’ve acquired from their studies, but also from the professional experience gained through the internships which are often included within their program.
However, if you are already a graduate in another field, or you’ve worked in a different industry, and now want to switch careers into hospitality management, the best place to start is with a professional diploma. Think of it as a fast-track course, delivering the industry essentials that will give you a solid platform to make the jump and land higher up the career ladder.
There are – of course – entry points to most industries at the lower, unskilled end of the spectrum. Hospitality is no different. But it is a long way up from there.
Bachelor graduates from hospitality management schools have an obvious advantage; not just in the knowledge they’ve acquired from their studies, but also from the professional experience gained through the internships which are often included within their program.
However, if you are already a graduate in another field, or you’ve worked in a different industry, and now want to switch careers into hospitality management, the best place to start is with a professional diploma. Think of it as a fast-track course, delivering the industry essentials that will give you a solid platform to make the jump and land higher up the career ladder.
If you are aiming to switch careers into hospitality, the Postgraduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management delivers the knowledge and network you need.
To a large extent, the answer to this question depends on you. How fast do you want to progress up the career ladder; and how hard are you prepared to work to make it happen? Much will also depend on the industry, region and role you choose.
As a guide, here we list some typical roles on offer at each stage of the career journey:
What are the secrets to a successful career in hospitality?
There are many factors that will determine your success in the hospitality industry; but right at the top is passion.
There are many factors that will determine your success in the hospitality industry; but right at the top is passion.
It’s passion that gets you up in the morning. Passion that carries you through the toughest challenges and the longest days. There are few short cuts in this industry, and you must be willing to make personal sacrifices if you wish to be successful.
You also have to understand the business of hospitality – intimately. And this combines efficient, high quality operations with the “secret sauce” that will deliver truly memorable experiences to your guests.
Other essential ingredients to success:
If communication breaks down within an operational team, your well-oiled machine will quickly hit problems, leading to a rapid drop-off in standards. Communication with the guests is equally important, and this includes ensuring that the communication is appropriate to the nature and status of the establishment and its clientele.
It’s often the little details that add up to a memorable stay, so your mindset should be that nothing is “too small” to make a difference. The same goes for financial performance – is there some detail in the numbers that indicates something you can change in order to enhance performance?
Hospitality is undergoing a period of intense digital transformation, revolutionizing the way brands engage with their customer base, the experience within the hotel, as well as in areas such as revenue management and sustainability/waste reduction.
“Hospitality is undergoing a period of intense digital transformation“
The successful leaders of the future will be the ones who understand how to embrace and exploit digital transformation, while having the attributes to lead their organizations and teams towards this digital future.
The network you build throughout your studies is an asset you’ll carry with you throughout your life and career. This can include your faculty, fellow alumni, your colleagues and managers from your professional internships, contacts made during field trips, and all the other connections you’re able to make.
- Radha Arora, President of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
One characteristic that unites the best higher education institutions is a strong and thriving alumni network. This is important, because
Alumni are proud of their achievements and proud of their alma mater. Many give plenty back in the form of mentoring to current students; sharing knowledge and expertise across the network; choosing other alumni first when recruiting, or simply offering a friendly face in a new city.
95%
of Les Roches Alumni are in touch with another alumni at least once a month
Les Roches Alumni is a global group now numbering more than 13,000 graduates, with its own dedicated Alumni Association plus a members-only platform that includes an online directory, news and insights, a job portal and exclusive alumni benefits.
Alumni news
- Lorena da Silva, Rooms Division Management Program, The Dorchester (BBA graduate)