Hospitality Careers

Learn about the extraordinary diverse range of career paths available to hospitality management graduates, together with tips and advice to keep your career journey successful and rewarding.

The hospitality business is historically resilient to shocks.

The primary reason for this is our natural human instinct to travel and experience new things, which provides an unshakeable foundation even in stormy economic or political times.

From an individual perspective, these are some (though not all) of the character traits that you will often find among people forging successful careers in hospitality:

★ Love of travel
★ Enjoyment of being around people
★ Delight in delighting others
★ Cultural curiosity
★ Resilience and strong work ethic
★ Appreciation of a varied working life (no two days the same)

That last point about variety is especially significant. The hospitality industry and its related sectors offer an outstanding variety of roles and working environments, some of which are outlined in the next section.

We do not have space to list every career avenue in the hospitality sector and beyond. Here, though, is a small representative sample, which is split functionally and by specialization:

Hospitality & Hotel management

Hospitality careers encompass a wide array of roles within an industry dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for guests. From managing hotel operations to overseeing food and beverage services, hospitality professionals play integral roles in ensuring the smooth functioning of various establishments.

Whether it’s managing a boutique hotel, coordinating events at a luxury resort, or overseeing guest services in a cruise ship, there are plenty of hospitality career pathways that you could consider in our list of careers in hospitality management:

Financial, revenue and asset management

Revenue management has become a key responsibility, moving from a more fiscal, cost control discipline towards driving the top line revenue. The hotel asset manager, meanwhile, has also become a pivotal figure.

Here are some of the finance roles that you might find in hospitality companies. In larger companies you will often find that they have multiple financial career options. Smaller companies might have several of these roles merged into one.

Luxury management

The luxury sector operates to its own codes, and to enter this world it pays to learn some of those codes, ideally by studying a specialized Master’s degree or by making luxury the focus of your Bachelor’s specialization or ‘major’. Within luxury management, there are a lot of different roles you could look at.

Entrepreneurship

Hospitality degrees provide strong foundations to aspiring entrepreneurs, with course content such as financial management & accounting, sales & marketing, plus softer skills such as communication, problem-solving and talent management. Entrepreneurs earn, on average, $76,037, but this is highly dependent on your sector, your business idea, and how successful you are. You could earn much more than this with hard work and dedication – there is no limit to how much an entrepreneur can earn.

Sales & marketing

The hospitality business is highly competitive, so all the most important hotels and hotel chains have dedicated sales & marketing teams to attract and retain both individual and corporate clients. There are plenty of roles to consider within sales and marketing.

Real estate investment specialist

The hotel real estate investment market is huge, providing golden opportunities for individuals who can combine financial knowledge with an appreciation for how hospitality operations work from the inside.

One of the best avenues into the business is earning a specialized Master’s degree.

As one of the most globally diverse industries, hospitality has no hard and fast pay scales. It very much depends on where you are working, the luxury level of your hotel, and much more – including, of course, whether you have achieved a specialized hospitality degree.

For example, as a General Manager of a rural hotel in a developing economy you cannot realistically hope to earn the same as a GM at a 5* luxury property in central Tokyo!

As a guide to some hotel management – and other – roles which you could reasonably expect to pay well, consider the following:

Of course, instead of a salaried job you may prefer to be your own boss. Hospitality is rich with entrepreneurial success stories, from individual hotels to international luxury travel operators.

By studying hospitality you open the door to a wide range of future career across multiple industries. Watch the video below to find out more…

A career in hospitality offers a wide array of opportunities, ranging from entry-level positions to managerial roles. While it’s possible to start from the bottom and work your way up through hands-on experience, obtaining a degree can significantly fast-track your career progression, with most management roles being hospitality degree jobs.

Education requirements

A formal education in hospitality management, business administration, or related fields equips you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel in the industry. You can expect to find plenty of good job opportunities in hospitality management with a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree in hospitality will let you specialize and aim for the highest roles with higher salaries.

Experience needed

To thrive in the hospitality sector, specific experience is essential. You can get this through working an entry-level job in hospitality, as this will expose you to the industry. Or, you can look at getting experience through your studies. Real-world experience is vital to help you really understand the industry as well as help you find your ideal professional career path in hospitality.

A degree in hospitality not only provides theoretical knowledge but also facilitates hands-on learning through internships and work experience, allowing students to gain invaluable real-world experience and develop practical skills that are highly sought after by employers. This exposure allows individuals to apply classroom concepts in real-world settings, honing their skills and building a solid foundation for a successful career in hospitality. Moreover, the networking opportunities provided by a degree program can open doors to mentorship, industry connections, and career advancement prospects. Overall, a combination of formal education, practical experience, and industry-specific skills is key to thriving in the dynamic and rewarding field of hospitality.

Mastering the essential skills is paramount if you want a role in this field. From impeccable customer service to efficient management, these key competencies lay the foundation for great careers in this hospitality industry.

Here are some of the key attributes that will help you to build a successful career in the hospitality business:

Strong communication skills

If you are responsible for a team, it will function more effectively if you ensure the lines of communication are clear and that the messages you give are concise and engaging. The same is true of customer communications, which must be friendly and adopt a tone that is appropriate to your establishment’s brand values and positioning.

Practical hospitality experience

The hospitality industry is a very practical and operational environment, with many moving parts. The more experience you have of how those parts move, the more effective a leader you will be. Your hospitality business education should include practical hospitality plus a strong element of business and operational theory.

Attention to detail

Great hospitality experiences are built on a mastery of the details, so your mindset should be that nothing is “too small” to make a difference. It is a similar story with financial performance – can you spot some detail in the numbers that could lead to a new service or innovation which will drive performance?

An innovative mindset

The hospitality sector is evolving rapidly, with new digital platforms revolutionizing the way brands can engage with – and expand – their customer base. Technology is also evolving the experience within the hotel, as well as in areas such as revenue management and sustainability/waste reduction.


Adaptability

The hospitality industry is known for its fast-paced and ever-changing environment. Being able to adapt to new situations, unexpected challenges, and shifting priorities is essential for success in this field.

Customer service excellence

Providing exceptional customer service is at the core of careers in hospitality management. Being able to anticipate and meet the needs of guests, resolve issues promptly and courteously, and create memorable experiences is crucial for building customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Multitasking

Hospitality professionals often juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously. The ability to prioritize, organize, and manage time effectively is essential for handling the demands of a busy hospitality setting.

Problem-solving

Unexpected problems and challenges can arise at any moment in any job in hospitality. Having strong problem-solving skills allows individuals to think quickly on their feet, find creative solutions, and maintain guest satisfaction.


Teamwork

Collaboration and teamwork are essential in hospitality, as many roles require working closely with colleagues to deliver seamless service and experiences. Being able to communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and support fellow team members contributes to overall success.

Cultural awareness

Hospitality professionals often interact with guests and colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds. Having cultural awareness and sensitivity allows individuals to navigate differences respectfully and create inclusive environments.

Leadership

For individuals in managerial or supervisory roles, strong leadership skills are essential for guiding and motivating teams, making strategic decisions, and driving performance. Effective leadership fosters a positive work culture and contributes to organizational success.

Emotional intelligence

Understanding and managing emotions is important in hospitality interactions. Having high emotional intelligence allows individuals to build rapport, resolve conflicts, and handle challenging situations with empathy and tact, when working with co-workers, staff, or customers.