Opportunities In the Hospitality Industry

Whether you want to further your existing career or switch to another, the hospitality industry offers a wide range of exciting job opportunities. Although many people immediately think about hotel work when they hear the word “hospitality,” individuals seeking management positions in the field can choose among a number of viable employment sectors including travel and tourism, casino management, and various food and beverage industries.

The hospitality industry can give you the opportunity to operate a tour company, plan events at a resort, or board a cruise ship as a recreation director. However, in order to succeed in any of these dynamic fields, the importance of a hospitality administration training cannot be underestimated.

For those with the proper education and drive, the opportunities in the hospitality industry are nearly limitless. The World Travel and Tourism Council recently released a report that compared economic growth in the hospitality industry to growth in other market sectors. The organization ultimately determined that hospitality and tourism has one of the highest potentials for expansion of any industry in the world.

Because of the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the industry, many hospitality organizations offer administrative positions to employees at comparatively young ages.

At the management level, workers in the hospitality industry receive all of the traditional benefits, such as competitive healthcare packages and retirement plans, that people have come to expect from a senior professional position. However, the hospitality industry, by its very nature, typically offers a range of unique and exciting fringe benefits. Depending on your specific area of professional interest, you may be eligible for free or discounted housing, hotel rooms, airfare and ground transportation, meals, laundry services, and other valuable amenities.

Find out the many benefits of a Hospitality management career

To capitalize on all that this industry has to offer, you must first educate yourself about the foundation of hospitality and familiarize yourself with the diverse opportunities that are available in a wide variety of hospitality fields. In addition to general hotel and restaurant management, there are employment options in the following, often overlooked, areas:

•          Airline and railway travel
•          Conferences and conventions centers
•          Travel agencies
•          Tourist offices and ministries of tourism
•          Tour operators
•          Spas and wellness centers
•          Cruise companies
•          Event management
•          Casinos
•          Catering companies
•          Bars and private clubs
•          Concert and theatre venues
•          Museums and other cultural venues
•          Theme parks
•          Fitness clubs and sports organizations (such as gyms, golf clubs, and tennis facilities)
•          Real estate management companies
•          Hotel development and construction
•          Manufacturers and suppliers of hospitality equipment

Even individuals who choose to work at a hotel can develop a career path within a number of unique environments, depending on their specific wants and needs. Certain personality types may gravitate toward a 5-star multinational chain, while others might seek work at a luxury resort, a boutique inn, an eco hotel, or a quaint bed and breakfast. It all depends on what kind of work environment fits you best.