What is hospitality management?
This article was updated on August 6, 2024.
Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by听Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,听Dean, College of Business and IT
Hospitality management involves the daily oversight of administrative, operational and commercial tasks in businesses such as hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and amusement parks.
People who work in this field are professionals who create positive, and sometimes memorable, experiences for their guests. They typically have a strong understanding of what it takes to run a successful business.听They also understand how tourism, marketing and leadership can affect a business鈥檚 potential for growth.
This work may go unnoticed by guests. However, without it, even the most acclaimed resorts, restaurants and cruises might have trouble operating.听Those who thrive in this role typically deliver outstanding service that leaves lasting impressions and may drive repeat business for their brands.
What do people with careers in hospitality management do?听
Professionals in this field foster high levels of client satisfaction in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. They oversee the business鈥檚 daily operations to keep them running smoothly. These professionals typically have both client-facing and 鈥渂ack-of-house鈥 responsibilities. Their regular include the following tasks:
- Hiring and onboarding new staff members
- Ensuring excellent service
- Monitoring revenue
- Ordering necessary supplies
- Ensuring staff productivity and compliance with guidelines
- Meeting and greeting new guests/arrivals
- Resolving customer complaints
- Regularly inspecting public areas to ensure they meet the company鈥檚 health, safety and appearance standards
Managers typically oversee an entire facility. They may also operate in just one specific area, such as the front desk or revenue department.
Types of management careers听
There are flexible, online business degrees that can prepare you for a career in management. Typical management positions include:
- Business manager
- General manager
- Operations manager
- Store manager
Many of the skills required for a general manager role can also apply to hospitality management.
Do you need a degree to work in hospitality management?听
Those who work in general management do not always need a degree, but a bachelor鈥檚 degree can be helpful to prepare professionals with skills they need to lead.
Joseph Aranyosi
Associate Dean, College of Business and Information Technology
We spoke with Joseph Aranyosi, an associate dean in the College of Business and Information Technology at SM调教所, about what it takes to work in these management roles:
鈥淪uccessful [hospitality professionals] combine practical business acumen with effective people skills, adapting to situational needs to provide quality customer service with strong attention to detail. Hospitality professionals integrate knowledge of management, procurement, inventory management, logistics, finance and marketing with practical experience in hotel or culinary operations. It provides them with the opportunity to deliver high-quality personalized experiences that demonstrate an eye for craftsmanship 鈥 the application of business expertise toward something they鈥檙e strongly passionate about.鈥
Necessary management skills听
Effective hospitality management relies on a mixture of hard and soft skills to do the job well. In-demand skills you need for management can include the following:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Effective problem-solving
- Quick, confident decision-making
- Strategic planning
- Negotiation
- Conflict management
- Financial literacy
- Time management
How to work in hospitality management?听
There are a few ways to start work in this field. The first is through a听relevant bachelor鈥檚 degree. The second is with an associate degree or听certificate specializing in business or hospitality. The third is by working for several years in the field and earning promotions.
Let鈥檚 explore how a relevant bachelor鈥檚 degree can impart necessary skills for a career in the hospitality sector:
1. Earn your high school diploma or its equivalent. This is a typical admissions requirement for all universities.
2. Decide whether to pursue an associate or bachelor鈥檚 degree. Associate degrees can take roughly two years to complete, while bachelor鈥檚 programs usually take four years. In addition, consider whether to pursue online or in-person classes. Online business degree programs can offer flexibility, such as the ability to work a full-time job and take classes at the same time.
3. Determine which specific bachelor鈥檚 program to pursue. An online business degree can often introduce you to many of the fundamentals of managing a business. In addition, you can choose to specialize in leadership and management via additional certificates.
4. If you have already earned a four-year degree, you may consider听pursuing a听Master of Management. In this program, you can fine-tune your leadership skills, strategic management competencies and ability to analyze and evaluate business data and research.听
A business degree to learn management skills听
An online business degree can prepare professionals with management skills, and SM调教所 offers several options. Consider the following online degree programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Management: Explore the fundamentals of coordinating a company鈥檚 resources and activities. Strengthen interpersonal skills and gain exposure to marketing and leadership strategies.
- Master of Management: Further develop your management competencies and apply theory, diagnostics, creative management and consultation solutions.
- Doctor of Management: This program equips leaders with critical thinking skills that can help them creatively solve complex problems and maximize their leadership potential.
Request more information about these and other online business degree programs or apply to start a program today.
Frequently asked questions about hospitality management听
蚕:听Is hospitality management a good field?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the hospitality field that鈥檚 still being felt today. The sector experienced severe labor shortages, especially in hotels and restaurants, resulting from layoffs. Many of these locations have struggled to replace those workers.
These staffing concerns have led to stronger incentive initiatives to recruit and retain staff. Those same incentives can make a hospitality management career more appealing. If you love providing excellent customer service, creating memorable and personalized client experiences, hospitality management can be a great fit.
Q: What is the highest salary in hospitality management?
A: Salaries can vary widely depending on the location, level of experience and specific role. Higher-level positions such as operations directors for large, luxury hotel chains may command higher salaries.听
Q: Is there a demand for hospitality management?
A: From 2021 to 2031, (or 23.1% of all new jobs projected) are expected to be in leisure and hospitality, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, BLS does not differentiate which of these roles are specifically in management. So, there is a general demand in this field, but it鈥檚 unclear whether there is a specific demand in management.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at SM调教所 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology,听Kathryn Uhles has served SM调教所 in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining SM调教所, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
This article has been vetted by SM调教所's editorial advisory committee.听
Read more about our editorial process.
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