What is hospitality management?
Working as a manager in the hospitality industry involves the daily oversight of administrative, operational and commercial tasks in businesses such as hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and amusement parks.
What is it like to work in hospitality management?
People who work in hospitality management are professionals who create positive, and sometimes memorable, experiences for their guests. They typically have a strong understanding of what it takes to run a successful business. They also understand how tourism, marketing and leadership can affect a business’s potential for growth.
This work may go unnoticed by guests. However, without it, even the most acclaimed resorts, restaurants and cruises might have trouble operating. Those who thrive in this role typically deliver outstanding service that leaves lasting impressions and may drive repeat business for their brands.
What do people with careers in hospitality management do?
Professionals in this field foster high levels of client satisfaction in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. They oversee the business’s daily operations to keep them running smoothly. These professionals typically have both client-facing and “back-of-house” responsibilities. Their regular job duties include the following tasks:
- Hiring and onboarding new staff members
- Ensuring excellent service
- Monitoring revenue
- Ordering necessary supplies
- Ensuring staff productivity and compliance with guidelines
- Meeting and greeting new guests/arrivals
- Resolving customer complaints
- Regularly inspecting public areas to ensure they meet the company’s health, safety and appearance standards
Managers typically oversee an entire facility. They may also operate in just one specific area, such as the front desk or revenue department.
Those who work in general management do not always need a degree, but a bachelor’s degree can be helpful to prepare professionals with skills they need to lead.
Hospitality and necessary management skills
Effective hospitality management relies on a mixture of hard and soft skills to do the job well. In-demand skills needed for management 
can include the following:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Effective problem-solving
- Quick, confident decision-making
- Strategic planning
- Negotiation
- Conflict management
- Financial literacy
- Time management
How to work in hospitality management?
There are a few ways to start work in this field. The first is through a relevant bachelor’s degree. The second is with an associate degree or certificate specializing in business or hospitality. The third is by working for several years in the field and earning promotions.
Here are steps toward a career in hospitality management when choosing to get a degree:
1. Earn a high school diploma or its equivalent. This is a typical admissions requirement for all universities.
2. Decide whether to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree. Associate degrees can take roughly two years to complete, while bachelor’s programs usually take four years. In addition, consider whether to pursue online or in-person classes. Online business degree programs can offer flexibility, such as the ability to work a full-time job and take classes at the same time.
3. Determine which specific bachelor’s program to pursue. An online business degree can often introduce students to many of the fundamentals of managing a business. In addition, students can choose to specialize in leadership and management via additional certificates.
4. Students who have already earned a four-year degree may consider pursuing a Master of Management. This program can help fine-tune leadership skills, strategic management competencies and the ability to analyze and evaluate business data and research.
Salary and job projections in hospitality management?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not offer overall statistics for hospitality management. One common job in the field that it does track is lodging manager.
As of May 2024, lodging managers earned between $39,490 and $126,990, with a median wage of $68,130 , according to BLS.
BLS projects lodging management employment to be much faster than other occupations from 2023-2033. That equates to 10 percent, or an average of 6,000 job openings each year over the decade.
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2023-2033 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.
Learn management skills that can be applied to hospitality management careers
If you’re interested in a career in hospitality management and are looking for a management degree, University of Phoenix offers online business and management programs , including online business management courses , a master’s degree in management program, and a doctorate in management .
Contact University of Phoenix for more information .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology, Kathryn Uhles has served University of Phoenix in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining University of Phoenix, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
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