Contrary to what you might think, Hospitality and Tourism careers are not like a never-ending vacation. This fast-changing, dynamic, and highly competitive field expects well-trained hospitality professionals with a serious work ethic.
A good understanding of business and what drives business success is a great advantage for people working in Hospitality and Tourism jobs, especially for those in Hospitality and Tourism management and administration. A good Master’s degree in Hospitality or Tourism abroad will boost your knowledge and confidence.
What is Hospitality and Tourism?
Hospitality is a broad industry that includes several fields dealing with delivering services to customers such as accommodation, food, or transport. Tourism is part of Hospitality, offering services for people travelling for either pleasure or business. The importance of Tourism and Hospitality lies in the development of our modern society. This constantly expanding industry gives us the means to explore the world and new cultures, meet new people and expand our human interactions. It also comes with numerous career opportunities.
The main difference between Tourism and Hospitality is that Tourism deals with attractions, activities, and events, while Hospitality focuses on providing people with great accommodation, travel, as well as other facilities like restaurants or sports centres.
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>> Here are a few universities we recommend for Hospitality Management studies:
- University of Derby, the UK
- Sustainability Management School (SUMAS), Switzerland
- TBS Business School, Spain
- Emlyon Business School, France
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
Top universities and colleges offering Tourism and Hospitality Management degrees
According to a study done by the CEOWorld magazine, these are the best Hospitality and Tourism schools in 2019:
- EHL - Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland
- School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, the US
- William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, the US
- Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, the US
- International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the US
- School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, the US
- School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at Northern Arizona University, the US
- Hospitality Management at Penn State, the US
- Oxford School of Hospitality Management, the UK
- Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the US
Hospitality and Tourism careers
Choosing a Tourism and Hospitality Master's degree will get you accustomed to working in an international environment and being more in tune with the needs of guests from different social and cultural backgrounds while helping them enjoy their time off.
At the end of your studies, you can choose from a range of Hospitality and Tourism careers, and we’ve listed the six most popular Hospitality and Tourism jobs:
1. Hotel Manager – 49,000 USD/year
- Oversee all the activities involved in the well-functioning of the hotel
- Set budgets, assign tasks, and evaluate staff performance
- Inspect the quality of the products and services offered by the hotel
One of the most important details of organizing a holiday is finding a good hotel So, if you plan to pursue career opportunities in Tourism management and end up managing a hotel, motel, or resort, it's your job to make sure your guests receive top quality accommodation, or you'll never see them again next year.
Nevertheless, this also applies to the helping staff as well, as all employees have to work like a well-oiled machine - from the time guests arrive, to their departure - to create an unforgettable experience.
Other career opportunities in Tourism management:
- Front desk clerk/receptionist
- Resort manager
- Housekeeper
- Hotel accountant
>> Check out top Master's degrees in Hospitality Management.
2. Flight Attendant – 40,700 USD/year
- Greet passengers, help with their luggage, and direct them to their seats
- Answer questions, solve emergencies and conflicts
- Share safety instructions and serve food and drinks
Airline travel is one of the two largest tourism-related industries. As a flight attendant, you need to help travelers feel safe and comfortable during the flight while tackling any unexpected problems they may face.
More well-paid career opportunities in Tourism management can be found in the other big tourism industry: luxury cruise services. There are similarities between a flight attendant and a luxury cruise ship manager, but the latter mixes the responsibilities of running a hotel, handling travelers, and ensuring top-class entertainment.
Other Hospitality and Tourism jobs, related to the travel industry include:
- Cruise staff
- Ship captain
- Travel security
- Luggage porter
- Disabled traveler aide
3. Restaurant Manager – 45,700 USD/year
- Hire, guide, and train new restaurant staff
- Organize schedules and meetings
- Order inventory, oversee payroll and other administrative tasks
The food services industry involves more than just putting food on the table. Hospitality graduates working in restaurants, bars, or cafeterias have to do their best to turn meals into special events, while also ensuring the food looks good and is safe to eat.
Restaurants and bars need to be well-staffed and supplied and respect safety and storage regulations while making a profit. If you plan to work in the food industry, you'll need to be calm under pressure, well organized, and have great communication skills. If you want to work in the kitchen, some studies in cooking are required as well.
More Hospitality and Tourism careers related to food services:
- Chef or kitchen staff
- Waiter
- Barista
- Catering coordinator
- Bar or club manager
- Sommelier
>> Find top Master's degrees in Food Sciences worldwide.
4. Entertainment Manager – 52,900 USD/year
- Organize daytime activities, sporting events, quizzes, etc. to keep the guests entertained
- Invite famous performers and bands to take part in shows
- Ensure there’s enough diversity in the activities and events so that any guest can enjoy
- Research new technologies and trends to see if they can improve the organization of shows
- Interview and screen artists to hire the best performers
When it comes to Hospitality and Tourism careers, being an entertainment manager is probably one of the most fun ones. As a specialist in entertainment, you’ll have to make sure your guests have an unforgettable holiday. You’ll make sure guests have fun without getting hurt, attract the best performers and look for ways to take events to the next level.
Here are other similar Hospitality and Tourism jobs you may want to consider:
- Adventure tour guide
- Amusement park manager
- Casino dealer
- Pit boss
- Show (or talent) manager
5. Event Planner – 47,700 USD/year
- Oversee all preparations for different events, including food, beverage, special guest needs/requests, entertainment
- Search for and book the most suitable venues for events and have backup options
- Organize transportation (if offered by the organizer) or inform guests about the transport and parking options
Being an event planner it’s the perfect job for people who are great communicators and who enjoy seeing others have a great time. Attention to details, problem-solving, and flexibility are some of the skills which will make your work a lot easier.
Other Hospitality and Tourism careers that might attract your attention:
- Wedding coordinator
- Concert or festival organizer
- Party planner
- Conference host
>> Find top Master's degrees in Event Management abroad and make this happen!
6. Travel Consultant – 41,500 USD/year
- Discuss with clients and understand their needs and expectations
- Research different airline and hotel services to find the best option for your clients
- Stay up to date with the latest changes and inform clients about possible travel or accommodation issues and what alternatives they have
Being a travel consultant or holiday planner is one of the Hospitality and Tourism jobs that require the ability to listen carefully to people and what they want. Try to understand what kind of experiences they’d love to have and see if you can not only meet their expectations but also add a small bonus on top. This approach will help you create a relationship based on trust, and you can be sure that your clients will return and will recommend you and your agency to other people.
Other related Hospitality and Tourism jobs include:
- Travel agent
- Booking agent
- Tourist information centre representative
- Tour guide
- Online customer service representative
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What are the highest-paying Hospitality and Tourism jobs?
The popular Hospitality and Tourism jobs we’ve listed above are well-paid. You can expect earnings to increase as you accumulate more experience, and some positions will offer you large bonuses based on performance, sales, and other factors.
This list of highest-paying Hospitality and Tourism jobs is relative because salaries are influenced by aspects like location, size of the organization, sales, how you’ve negotiated your income and bonuses, etc.
However, it’s no surprise that management and executive positions stand out. Here are some of the best-paid Hospitality and Tourism jobs:
- Food and Beverage Director – 67,600 USD/year
- Executive Chef – 60,000 USD/year
- Housekeeping Director – 56,700 USD/year
What skills do you need to thrive in Hospitality and Tourism careers?
Working in the Hospitality and Tourism industry isn’t for everybody. If you want to develop a successful career in this field, these are some of the key abilities that will make you stand out from the crowd:
Communication
People think that simply because they can speak or write, they’re also good communicators. Wrong. It’s not easy to express yourself clearly and avoid being ambiguous or adding unnecessary things. In Hospitality and Tourism careers, you need to choose your words carefully if you want to persuade your clients to choose you and not your competition.
The easiest way to do it is to become a great listener. Don’t listen thinking what to reply, listen to understand. Once you know exactly what people want or need, you’ll be in a much better position to explain how and why you can meet their expectations.
Diplomacy
Career opportunities in Tourism management require diplomacy. Diplomacy is closely related to communication, but also to being aware of your emotions and those of your clients. Becoming a good diplomat will serve you well because things can change quickly in Tourism and Hospitality. Flights may be delayed, hotels can be already booked, or bad weather might spoil your guests’ holiday.
The point is, you need to be ready to deal with unhappy clients, manage conflicts, and move fast to offer a solution, either in the form of reimbursement or by offering a discount or an alternative accommodation or holiday destination.
Handling pressure
Knowing how to cope with stress is very important in Hospitality and Tourism careers. And you can learn how to do it, even if now you’re not so good at it. This will serve you wonderfully when you negotiate with clients or manage multiple big projects at the same time.
To work well under pressure, the key is knowing when to ask for help. Don’t take more than you can handle and let your colleagues or manager know when you need support. If you’re the one in charge, learn to delegate tasks and encourage people. It won’t always be easy, but with a little effort, both you and your team can face stressful situations easier if you collaborate and communicate effectively.
Problem-solving
Problem-solving is all about looking at alternatives and possible solutions instead of complaining. This skill goes hand in hand with analytical abilities and paying attention to details. These competencies will allow you to evaluate options and choose the best one according to the client's needs.
In Hospitality and Tourism jobs, you’ll also encounter situations where you cannot find an alternative. With those, you need to learn to move on and not try to fix things that are beyond your control. Simply inform people about the problem and see if there’s anything you can do to make things a little better.
Ready to start your adventure with the Hospitality and Tourism careers?
If you think about studying for a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, you’re spoilt for choice. There are over 3,000 Bachelor’s and 1,700 Master’s available on our portals alone. You can use filters to narrow down your search and take advantage of our Best Fit and Comparison tools to see which Hospitality or Tourism degree fits you best.
Cannot study abroad? No problem! Check out the available online Bachelor’s and Master’s in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Whether you’ll end up running a hotel or creating perfect itineraries, Hospitality and Tourism careers are very rewarding and one of the most exciting work environments in the world.