Bachelor of Hospitality Management

Reasons to Earn a Bachelor of Hospitality Management

Hospitality careers are hotter than ever before. With increased business and personal travel, new careers in hospitality services are being created every day. These new employees require skilled managers if they are to be successful. A bachelor of hospitality management degree program can teach the fundamentals of the hospitality industry as well as the fundamentals of successful employee relations and management. If you are looking for a career in management and feel that you have excellent people skills, a bachelor of hospitality management program can be the first step towards finding a rewarding career tailored to your personal skills.

Career Possibilities

Job Outlook and Growth

A graduate of a hospitality management bachelor's degree program is prepared for lower and middle-level management positions in the hospitality industry. Some possible careers are hotel or motel manager, convention center coordinator, spa or resort manager, restaurant manager, retirement center manager, casino manager, and more. Some graduates may even open their own hospitality business, functioning as both a manager and an owner.

The US Department of Labor, www.bls.gov, predicts above average growth for the hospitality industry, due to consumers having more discretionary spending money, increased number of retired persons, and a general overall increase in travel and active lifestyles.

Salary Information

Base salaries for hospitality workers can range from $25,000 to $55,000 per year, according to Salary.Com, www.salary.com, depending upon the type of establishment managed and an employee's particular job duties and responsibilities. Most salaries are augmented by bonuses related to the success of the establishment. This is common in work environments like casinos, resorts, and other establishments with close ties to tourism.

Degree Specifics

Required Courses

A bachelor of hospitality management degree program will combine general business courses and management studies with courses that specifically relate to customer care and other issues central to hospitality careers. Course titles will vary depending upon the institution selected, but some topics to expect include:

• Business Communications
• Tourism
• Statistics
• Accounting & Finance
• Management Strategies
• History and Development of the Hospitality Industry
• Quality Assurance
• Customer Service
• Current Issues Facing Hospitality Workers

Some programs also recommend an internship with a local hospitality business in order to provide students with professional experience during the degree program. This will depend upon your institution and its curriculum. Most programs encourage students to take courses in a foreign language to better interact with today's diverse population.

Skills Learned

A graduate of a bachelor's degree of hospitality management degree program will be prepared for the challenges they will face in the workplace. In addition to the subjects taught in the classroom, students can expect to learn skills such as:

• Ability to interact and service customers efficiently
• An understanding of the budgetary and financial concerns of hospitality businesses such as hotels or casinos
• The ability to delegate tasks to employees and encourage and motivate team members
• Knowledge of the challenges facing hospitality workers and businesses today and how to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow
• The ability to identify areas of poor customer relations and how to implement changes to encourage a more positive customer experience
• An understanding of the types of consumers that visit each type of hospitality establishment and the desires and needs of each customer and how best to meet them
• Ability to analyze data related to finances, customer feedback, employee productivity, and understand how this data can provide important information on how to make improvements
• Excellent people and communication skills