Hospitality Management

Let’s start with a more fundamental question: what is hospitality?

The dictionary defines ‘hospitality’ as: the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

This underlines the fact that hospitality is about much more than hotels.

Indeed, any industry where customers – or employees – need to feel welcomed, valued, and engaged can benefit from hiring people with the skills learned through a hospitality degree.

Of course, hotel management is still the primary career option for someone with a hospitality education.

At Les Roches, the hospitality industry accounts for more than half (54%) of our graduating students, and there are numerous attractive and rewarding careers in hotel management available, right up to the top job of General Manager (GM).

“…there are plenty of non-hospitality companies that actively recruit hospitality management graduates”

Alongside a career in hospitality, there are plenty of non-hospitality companies that actively recruit hospitality management graduates.

It’s very common to find luxury retail brands or high-end technology companies, who are looking for executives to give value to their product; and who know how to create an unforgettable experience that builds customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Travel & tourism – hotels, restaurants, bars, cruise lines, plus a vast selection of digital technology platforms, from online travel agents to bespoke hotel revenue management tools

Retail & fashion – including luxury brands and personal shopping

Sports & leisure – including event management and roles at international sporting bodies

Spa & wellness – already a $550 billion market, wellness tourism is one of the fastest-growing areas of the global wellness industry

Media & marketing – both within and outside the hospitality sector

Financial services & consultancy – where the soft skills and service ethos of hospitality management graduates are increasingly seen as providing a valuable competitive edge

International opportunities

Every city has its own collection of hotels and restaurants; while tourism – particularly in the luxury sphere – now reaches into some of the most remote parts of the planet. So there’s an opportunity to use your hospitality management skills just about anywhere in the world you choose. It’s hard to think of a more international career.

“…it’s hard to think of a more international career”

The ‘people thing’

If people are your passion, hospitality management delivers like few other fields. Hotels are the ultimate test of your people management skills: 24 hour operations, multinational teams, with high stress situations that must be managed away from the seeing eye of the customer… little wonder hotel managers find their roles so addictively rewarding.

It’s always evolving

From the ‘jet set’ of the 1950s to the package tour explosion of the 1970s; and now the potential for leisure trips into space… this is an industry that never stands still. As global travel and tourism shakes off the impacts of Covid-19 (and experts predict a recovery to pre-pandemic levels by 2023) there will be new opportunities for entrepreneurial individuals who’ve learned the codes of hospitality in order to break them.

The skills are totally transferable

Hospitality management skills are transferable to many different industries and roles.

It’s a playground for innovators

From ‘smart’ hotel rooms with features that you can personalize through a dedicated app, to facial recognition software that speeds up the check-in process, the hospitality industry truly embraces technology and innovation.

“The digital transformation of hospitality is real and it’s happening now”

The digital transformation of hospitality is real and it’s happening now; but the industry needs more talent to turn the digital promise into reality. In a survey by Skift, only 39% of executives said they were “quite confident” they had the necessary talent on board to deliver their digital objectives.

Are there good careers in hospitality management?

There are so many great hospitality careers!

Your hospitality degree will give you the tools to succeed whether you choose to stay within the hotel industry or decide to pursue a career in one of the many other sectors where such skills are in demand, such as food service management.

Discover a few of the career opportunities that a world-class hospitality management education can open up.

What are the different types of hospitality degree?

Depending on where you are at in your life and/or current career, there will be a hospitality degree to match your needs.

Undergraduates/high school leavers

If you are a high school leaver seeking a career-focused undergraduate program, then a Bachelor’s degree would be the perfect choice to continue your education.

Career switchers

For those aiming to switch careers into hospitality, a professional diploma offers an ideal entry ticket. Some schools will offer these at postgraduate level.

Graduates

For those already in possession of a Bachelor’s degree, the next academic step will be a graduate program such as a Master’s or MBA degree. The Master’s offers in-depth study across a specialized topic or discipline, while the MBA provides a more rounded leadership education, where applied business knowledge sits alongside an intense focus on leadership skills and behaviors.

What are the benefits of studying hospitality management?

The key benefit from achieving a hospitality management degree is that it provides your entry ticket to a career in hospitality.

Another benefit of specialist hospitality management study is that it delivers the mixture of practical and academic knowledge that is a necessity to progress in the industry; including – in many cases – at least one professional internship built-in

What can you do with a hospitality management degree?

As with any profession, there is a proven career path for hospitality management graduates, from junior roles through middle management and into the executive suite.

Junior positions are the most common for recent graduates of a hospitality school. Your goal should be to start a professional career, learn organizational operations and participate in training programs within your own company.

A good hospitality business school will teach you to think about your long-term future as a professional in the industry. By demonstrating your skills in hospitality, you will advance to executive positions with more responsibilities. It is at this point that many hospitality students go back to school for the

Campus life

The campus will be your home throughout your studies, so try to visit if you can, as this will give you the best indication of the “vibe” and if it suits you.

Look for an environment suited to your personality and learning style. To get ahead in the global hospitality industry, it pays to study in a very international environment, with a strong multicultural aspect to the student community.

This will likely feed into a vibrant global alumni community, providing you with a network of friends and contacts that will be an invaluable asset as you build your career.

Career services

A successful career is your “return on investment” for the time and money you commit to your higher education. Look for an institution with dedicated, personalized career services, a world-class employer reputation, and an overall graduate employment rate above 90%.

Learn more about Hospitality Management