Learn what jobs you'll find in the welcoming world of hospitality and tourism.
A hospitality degree is your ticket to a fun and exciting career in the growing hospitality and tourism industry. With projected openings of 1.5 million jobs in the hospitality industry in the next 5 years, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, you'll find no shortage of opportunities to put your hospitality degree to work.
Gone are the days where "hospitality" meant just busing dishes or changing towels. Today's modern hospitality industry includes not just hotel and restaurant management, but also casinos, spas, cruise ships and more. Here are just a few of the careers you could launch with a hospitality degree.
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Casinos are a high stakes business. No longer confined to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, commercial casinos now operate in 11 US states, and tribal casinos exist in 28 states. Casinos have evolved in recent years into hotbeds of entertainment, retail and cuisine. Many house live performances, concerts, theaters, world-class retail centers and five-star restaurants. As a gaming supervisor you'll be at the center of it all.
Gaming supervisors are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the casino. This involves planning and organizing events for guests, making sure there are enough dealers on the floor, handling customer complaints and ensuring a high level of service and professionalism among casino staff. With a hospitality degree under your belt, you are primed to enter the exciting field of casino management.
Concierges are in the business of making people's dream vacations come true. Responsible for fulfilling the requests of guests, typical duties of a concierge include securing hard-to-get theater tickets, making impossible last-minute reservations or arranging day trips to local hot spots. However, for a good concierge, the fun is in dealing with the unique requests such as finding an animal companion for a lonely business traveler or helping plan a romantic proposal a couple will never forget.
A fixture at luxury hotels across the globe, concierges have a history of helping travelers since the Middle Ages. Many concierges speak several languages and are trained to assist people of different cultures. Having a hospitality degree with a concentration in international tourism will definitely put anyone wishing to enter this respected profession at the top of the hiring manager's list.
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While it may seem like a foodie's dream job, being a food and restaurant critic involves a lot more than just enjoying a good meal. Food and restaurant critics are often chosen for their experience and expertise in the restaurant business. Having a food and hospitality management degree is definitely an asset, because critics are expected not only to critique the food but also the service, decorum and quality of an establishment and its kitchen.
Opportunities for food critics exist at newspapers, magazines, on the web and in books such as the famous Zagat's guide. However, these opportunities tend to be limited and competition can be tough. Having a working knowledge of the food industry coupled with a flair for the written word will help you land one of these enviable positions.
Tour Director
School Spotlight
New England Culinary Institute offers an online Bachelor's in Hospitality and Restaurant Management that fully prepares you for a management-level position in the hospitality industry by providing a well-rounded education and teaching you the details of operating a hospitality business.
As a tour director, you will travel the world, sharing your knowledge of local history and customs with other travelers—offering them the vacation of a lifetime. Working for private tour companies, local resorts or attractions, tour directors are responsible for traveling with the tour group, managing transportation and lodging, arranging meals, leading tours and attending optional excursions and events.
Being a tour director involves working with international customs and laws as well as dealing directly with people from across the world. Having a hospitality degree or other related certification or training is essential for landing a job in this field—it will give you the knowledge and terminology to make you an effective guide no matter where you travel.
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Event Planner
Want to get paid to party? As an event planner, you can be a part of some of the most memorable and cherished events in people's lives. Design lavish weddings, rock-star style bashes or elegant sit-downs. Event planners work with clients to generate the event's theme, location and budget. They work with vendors to secure favors, arrange locations and order food.
Job conditions are flexible. You can choose to work at a firm with other planners or start your own business. A hospitality degree or certificate will give you the food industry insight and management skills that put you at an advantage above other planners, most of whom have no formal education in event planning or hospitality.
