What Is Involved In a Tourism & Hospitality Management Degree Program?

---

Regardless of whether you see yourself working in a reputable 5-star luxury hotel or resort, or providing your services in a national tourist board, earning a tourism and hospitality management degree will prepare you to fill management positions. Tourism and hospitality management degree place a strong emphasis on management and business.

Most schools design their bachelor’s degree program in tourism and hospitality management for total flexibility and career opportunity. As an applicant, you will need to take the introductory courses, which will cover a wide spectrum of career fields and subjects. Then, you will need to choose two specializations in either hospitality management or tourism.

Tourism and Hospitality Management Degree: Professional Development Opportunities

Students who wish to earn a degree in tourism and hospitality management may look forward to the following professional development opportunities in most colleges:

•Internship Programs: Students will have the opportunity to gain real life, practical experience while undergoing an internship program to earn valuable credits at reputable establishments. This will also help the student build up their resume even before they graduate college. Some colleges have partnerships with top notch hospitality establishments in the country.

•Study Abroad: Some colleges maintain partnerships with a couple of international colleges, universities, and organize faculty-led tours, credit, and alternative spring breaks.

•Co-curricular Activities: Students can consider signing up to join a tourism club or the student chapter of the well known National Society for Minorities in Hospitality. Students will have the opportunity to network with people in the hospitality industry.

•Attend Conferences: Students will also need to attend tourism and hospitality related conferences and shows where they get to learn more about the tourism and hospitality industry.

Uses of a Tourism and Hospitality Management Degree

Students who have earned a degree in tourism and hospitality are expected to become leaders, managers, consultants, and entrepreneurs with every component and sector of the tourism and hospitality industry. Graduates find work in a variety of sectors, which include food service, transportation, accommodation, destination promotion and attractions. There are so many other job opportunities available to those who have earned a degree in tourism and hospitality management:

•Hotel manager
•Ecotourism consultant
•Event planner
•Theme park manager
•Tour planner
•Restaurant manager
•Destination marketer
•Airline manager
•Resort manager

Tourism and hospitality management program can help prepare students for many challenges that come with operating or managing a hospitality business by simply teaching them the basics of business technology, finance, and human resource management. The hospitality industry-specific courses will help students know how to interact with guests, clients, customers, and suppliers. Students will also learn how to successfully plan events, travel and manage guest lodging. They will also learn how to direct dining and catering activities.

If you enjoy enriching the lives of others while looking forward to an enviable paycheck, working in beautiful resort facilities, then it makes great sense to earn a degree in tourism and hospitality management.