Follow
Even in a sluggish economy, many people take time out to recharge by going on vacation, which consequently helps to support those working in hospitality and tourism management jobs. Those who consider entering this career field often do so because they are attracted by the idea of getting paid to help people plan and enjoy their vacations. After earning an undergraduate degree that provides a broad educational foundation for lodging or restaurant management, interested hospitality professionals may wonder what they can do with a Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Here are some of the career paths that are enhanced by a graduate degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Event Planner
Businesses across all industries conduct meetings and special events that are typically held in off-site locations. One reason that these meetings are held away from the normal office setting is so that meeting participants can focus fully on the topics presented at the event and not splitting their attention among other work tasks. Another reason for holding special events off-site is that many organizations do not have the facilities to accommodate a multitude of conference participants. Business professionals often consult event planners to help them locate great venues for their meetings, facilitate the seamless use of sound systems and digital conferencing capabilities and coordinate caterers just to name a few job duties. These professionals earn average annual salaries reaching $60,000 .
Hotel General Manager
General managers for major hotel brands hold positions of great responsibility. They are required to set personnel policy for their staff, oversee hotel food offering and ensure that the general ambiance of the hotel meets or exceeds guest expectations. They manage day-to-day operations of the establishment and oversee all aspects of the daily financial transactions associated with room rental and hotel restaurant payments. These managers are concerned with hotel occupancy and may have authority to adjust rates to fill rooms. Hotel general managers must have and show a broad set of business skills daily, and their average annual six figure salary of $149,000 reflects the breadth of their job responsibilities.
Anti-Aging Spa Director
A trend that is emerging in the global hospitality and tourism management industry is the desire to frequent wellness clinics. Many of the world’s population is concerned with their quality of life. This prompts them to lead healthier lifestyles even while on vacation. In fact, these people enjoy going to resorts that cater to healthy lifestyle choices like consuming raw food diets, participating in vigorous physical fitness and receiving other wellness treatments that contribute to reversing the effects of aging. Hospitality professionals with the right credentials can attempt to age proof their careers by joining this lucrative segment of the hospitality industry as spa managers. Spa managers usually concentrate on the business aspects of running the spa and managing employees; they also keep up with the latest techniques and products within their industry segment. Salaries for this position vary by job location, experience and credentials. For example, many of the managers for holistic spa resorts have certificates in alternative health, exercise science or massage therapy as well as degrees in hospitality management.
Conclusion
Hospitality and tourism management is an exciting industry for high energy people with a personal philosophy of customer care and service. The careers available within hospitality management vary for professionals with the right combination of education and experience. A graduate degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management gives these business professionals the management and leadership tools to be successful in a number of hospitality and tourism management jobs.
Related Resource: What are the Prerequisites for a Masters in Business?
