If you’re someone who, like me, has fallen in love with the travel and tourism industry – whether it is travel, being around other travelers, travel planning, etc. – you may want to consider studying hospitality.
Of course, nothing can satisfy the itch of the travel bug like hopping on a plane with a one-way ticket and trekking your way around the world without a single plan – but immersing yourself in the travel industry can be a rewarding and fulfilling alternative, and a hospitality degree is just the way to do that.
If any of this sounds like you and you’re willing to commit the time to study a hospitality management degree, keep on reading to learn more about what a hospitality degree is and what you can do with it.
What is a hospitality degree?
To understand what a hospitality degree is, you must first understand what the hospitality industry encompasses. The hospitality industry can be broken down into six main categories: food and beverage services, lodging and accommodation, events and entertainment, travel and tourism, timeshare and other. It’s a pretty broad industry. A hospitality management degree will introduce you to the hospitality industry, provide you with detailed knowledge regarding its various branches, teach you the customer service skills required to succeed in the industry and more. Because the hospitality industry is so broad, the hospitality management degree, therefore, has the potential to open doors to a vast amount of unique career options for you.
What can I do with a hospitality degree?
The options may not be limitless, but there are plenty of them – the hospitality industry really has something for everyone. Regardless of which sector of the industry interests you, there are numerous career options to choose from. These are a few examples of career paths a hospitality degree can offer:
Food or Beverage Manager
If you love good food and good drinks, a constant frenzy of new faces, and the fast-paced atmosphere that the food and beverage industry offers, then working in food and beverage management may be for you. Essentially, the food and beverage manager is responsible for ensuring the restaurant or bar runs smoothly. This means handling staffing, training, food purchasing, up keeping safety and health standards and overseeing general operations.
Tourism Officer
A tourism officer is responsible for developing and enhancing visitor facilities for an area (city, region, country, etc.) to stimulate the growth of tourism. This is a great career for anyone who has a passion for sharing the beauty and enjoyment where they live with others.
Event Planner
Do you love planning, organising and hosting events? You may want to consider becoming an event planner. Work in various settings, in any number of locations, organising events ranging from weddings, charity events, corporate fundraisers or conferences. You’ll be working with all kinds of people on a diverse set of tasks – a job that will keep you on your toes for sure.
But that’s not all…
These are only a few of the many options available to you if you complete a hospitality degree. In addition to these, you may want to work in hotel management, becoming a tour guide or a travel agent, open your own hostel, start your own catering and Events Company, the list goes on and on. A hospitality degree allows you to embrace the lifestyle you love. If you love fast-paced atmospheres, you have that. If you love planning and organising, you got it. If you want to spend your life travelling the world, helping others enjoy the things you love, and promoting beautiful places – bingo.
A hospitality degree will get you there.
References
- https://www.hotelschool.co.za/10-jobs-you-can-do-with-a-hospitality-qualification/
- https://www.topuniversities.com/courses/hospitality-management/guide
- https://www.soegjobs.com/different-sectors-hospitality-industry/
