The hospitality industry offers many career opportunities, and few are as demanding or rewarding as careers in hotel management. You will have an entire hotel's operations under your control, and will be expected provide top-of-the-line hospitality to business travelers and tourists alike.
Careers in Hotel Management: What Does This Profession Entail?
Hotel management professionals work to provide vacationers and business travelers with a comfortable home away from home. These professionals oversee operations such as housekeeping, office administration, security and maintenance staff. Professionals with backgrounds in hotel management may also seek work at recreational camps, RV parks, inns, boarding houses and youth hostels.
What Training Do I Need To Work in Hotel Management?
Many hoteliers have degrees in hotel administration or business management. While providing a crucial leg up in the hospitality industry, that training is certainly not required. Other professionals may try to work their way up through the ranks at an existing hotel into a management position. Universities and colleges throughout the country offer programs in hotel management. Students can study toward associate's, bachelor's or master's degrees at many of these institutions. Certificate programs are also available. The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration offers students an Ivy League education and a degree in hospitality. Cornell is the only Ivy League business management program that focuses on the hospitality industry. Students can pursue a bachelor of science in hotel administration, a master of management in hospitality or PhD in hotel administration degree. Other top institutions in the hospitality management field include the University of Denver, the University of Central Florida and Oklahoma State University. Your local community college or university may offer coursework for hotel management that will help in your job search. Opportunities to further your education are also available online.
The Job Outlook: The Future Of Careers In Hotel Management
Although travel and tourism is expected to grow, the new hotels that open as a result will have streamlined operations systems, which means fewer managers are needed to oversee each hotel. Chain hotels, for example, are increasingly hiring managers to head multiple properties within a region. As a result, employment for hotel managers is expected to grow only 5 percent from 2008 to 2018, slower than the average growth rate for the hospitality industry as a whole (US Department of Labor, 2010). Large, full-service hotels with adjoining resorts, casinos, restaurants and convention centers will typically offer more opportunities for experienced managers. Some professionals trained in hotel management may consider jobs in restaurant management to broaden their opportunities.