Careers in hospitality management include lodging, event, tourism, casino and human resources management. Earning a college degree in hospitality management will give you the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this unique field. Hospitality management provides the career paths below that you should consider.
Tour Operations Supervisor
Tour operations supervisors organize, drive and execute daily tour operations in a variety of settings, such as stadiums, attractions and theme and amusement parks. They ensure guest satisfaction and problem resolution through supervising front line employees on a daily basis. They maintain tour events using ticket software and manage monthly venue availability calendars. They setup and review tour deals, routes, features and operations.
Tour operations supervisors partner with sales and marketing to plan special events that accommodate thousands of guests per day. Tour operations supervisors should have strong interpersonal skills so they can effectively relate to all levels of employees and create positive relationships with the public. They should welcome fresh perspectives and quickly respond to changing circumstances based on business needs.
Hospitality Management Trainee
Many hotel chains hire hospitality management trainees from within and without the organization, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These trainees assist in front and back office operations, such as amenity, night auditing and housekeeping programs. In order to acquire a basic understanding of hotel functions, they attend sales, operational and revenue meetings. They sometimes are tasked with individualized projects, such as identifying process improvement opportunities within operations or coordinating a variety of customer satisfaction surveys.
If necessary, they assist in the catering operations at the hotel, so they must attend meetings, prepare room set-ups and participate in event operations. Hospitality management trainees are expected to become knowledgeable of the company’s brand, service concepts and departmental policies. Part of their training involves learning to effectively and efficiently resolve all guests’ complaints in timely manners and according to standards. Some hospitality management trainees are assigned to specific areas, such as administration offices or full-service restaurants.
Event Manager
Event managers must ensure that guests enjoy a memorable experience when they visit the hospitality facility. Events managers directly supervise support staff as they schedule and support the activities and logistics for all events. They work closely with sales to align organizational goals and service standards with customer expectations. Event managers coach and lead support staff during all phases of the event and interact with visitors to create positive experiences. They also work with sales partners to identify opportunities and offer recommendations to customers to improve their event experience.
Event managers will need financial skills because they coordinate budget management with customers. This includes knowledge of inventory, bookkeeping, procurement and contract execution and fee collection. They need strong administrative skills to handle services, existing contracts and client relationships. They must maintain a working knowledge of all required safety, health and environmental standards for public and private events as required by law. Event manager job applicants should complete a regular four-year college program and have a minimum of five years’ experience in hospitality management.
Related Resource: Public Relations Manager
Those with ample experience and education may become operations directors who act as business leaders of hospitality facilities.
