Introduction

Clocking billions of dollars in annual revenues worldwide, the hospitality industry throws up many opportunities for students. There is a demand especially for trained professionals with finance, supervisory and managerial skills.

North America remains the leader in Hospitality Management education, and draws a huge number of international students

Traditionally, hospitality education’s most popular destinations have been in Europe, the United States and the United Kingdom. Of late, though, countries such as Australia, Canada and South East Asia are climbing the popularity charts. Many well-known hospitality schools have opened new campuses in China, the Philippines and the Middle East.

North America remains the leader in Hospitality Management education, and draws a huge number of international students because some of the world’s biggest hotel and hospitality companies are headquartered in the United States. This gives hotel school graduates an advantage when seeking employment or internships.

A degree from an accredited college opens up doors for its graduates, and usually enhances salaries. The possibilities are vast: hotel, motel and resort management, to food and beverage management, tour planning, event planning, golf course management, marketing and sales and revenue management.

In addition to the traditional degrees and vocational diplomas in the field, MBA degrees are offered for hotel industry aspirants who want to gain management expertise in diverse areas such as operations, revenue management, marketing management, real estate finance and investment.

Students should pick the school most suited to their personal career objectives

Many hotel graduates go on to run independent businesses, while others score well-paying management positions at casinos, restaurants, hotels, motels, resorts, luxury spas, or any other residential or food service business. Graduates of Travel and Tourism courses find managerial positions in airlines, cruise ships and other tour and travel companies.

Students should pick the school most suited to their personal career objectives. For instance, a student who wants to work in the gaming industry should opt for a Hospitality Management course at the University of Nevada and specialize in the field of gaming.

Money Matters

A degree in Hospitality Management gives job seekers a definite advantage in terms of negotiating pay scales, as well as in securing the job. Post graduate degrees almost always guarantee a rapid rise through the ranks.

According to a survey of Hilton Hotels done by Payscale.com, a General Manager at a hotel can earn an average of $85,374, while a Food and Beverage Director can be paid $70,127. An Assistant General Manager earns $ 47,500 and a Banquet Manager $52,874 per annum.

Employees with a BA in Hospitality Management are likely to earn $40,858 to $101,302 per annum as the General Manager of a property. The Assistant General Manager with a BA can earn $30,204 to $58,326, while a Restaurant Manager can earn $34,392 to $41,116 per annum depending on years of experience.

With a BS in Hospitality Management, a General Manager can earn $48,000 to $156,146 a year, a Restaurant Manager between $39,305 and $55,013 and a Revenue Manager from $ 43,713 to $65,703 per annum. It is important to keep in mind that in general, all management positions are typically paid on a sliding scale according to experience level.

At the management level it is very probable that there is a substantial bonus at the end of every fiscal year. The company may offer shares or other profit-sharing benefits. Non-monetary perks such as free meals, laundry, access to special events/performances on site, and sometimes even free hotel stays are a possibility depending on the company’s policies.

Timing the Hospitality Degree

Most Hospitality Management schools offer degrees at the undergraduate as well as the Masters and postgraduate level

Most Hospitality Management schools offer degrees at the undergraduate as well as the Masters and postgraduate level.Afour-year Bachelor of Science (BS) in Hotel Administration degree or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is offered at the undergraduate level. A BS degree in hospitality management is more finance driven, and generally has more required courses.

Cornell does not admit students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree for a second undergraduate degree. If you have completed a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in any field (including, but not limited to, hospitality management), they encourage you to apply to the school’s Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) degree. The average student age for the MMH program is about 26-27.

At the higher education level there is the Master of Science (MS) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. The MS and PhD program is really designed for people who want a career in academia.The MS and PhD degrees are highly individualized programs directed toward students who plan to teach and perform research in a university setting.

Test Requirements for Bachelors and Masters

It is advisable to do an in-depth study of each specific field of interest.

Applicants for the four-year Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration have to submit standardized SAT scores. Generally, of course ACTs are the same thing. There are also TOEFL requirements for international students along with good high school grades. The admissions process can be highly competitive in some American universities. The interview is considered critical at Cornell although not every US school offers applicants an interview. 

Steven Carvell, associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Hotel Administration, in Cornell University, at Ithaca says,

 “We have reasonably high expectations —our SAT scores are about 1,280 for the math and verbal. I could share another statistic — we have almost 1,000 applicants for about 170 slots. Honestly almost half of those applicants are really not competitive, but that still leaves us with 500 very highly competitive applicants for 170 spots.”

“Those are people who all fit the description of having 1,500 SATs or higher, GPA scores of A- at least so we have one difficult time differentiating between these excellent students who are applying,” he added.

Applicants for the MMH program have to submit official transcripts, GMAT, TOEFL/IELTS scores and interview. Since they are older students their resumes need to reflect solid work experience.

Applicants for the MS and PhD programs must meet the eligibility requirements which usually include: an excellent academic record; a GMAT score of 700 and above and experience in the field of choice and a well constructed statement of purpose.

Popular degrees, courses and schools

The interview is considered critical at Cornell although not every US school offers applicants an interview

The type of courses available to a student differs widely based on the institute or university you pick. Although a range of programs are available at both bachelors and masters level, undergraduate degrees may be classified broadly into Arts and Sciences based on the discretion of the university as well as the course content.

The most common undergraduate programs include:

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Hospitality Business with hospitality tourism management

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Hotel Administration 

Graduate programs include:

Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH)  

Master of Science (MS)

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD)

MS in Food Service Management

MBA or PhD in Hospitality and Tourism Management degrees are customized programs for students who plan to teach or conduct research upon graduation. They are equipped with the right tools and methodology for conducting research in addition to teaching and administrative skills.

Course Content

Classes in Hospitality Management may include Principals of Management, Leadership and Quality Management in Hospitality, Hospitality Accounting, Marketing Hospitality Services, Strategic Planning in the Hospitality Industry, Hotel Management, Restaurant Operations, Gaming Operations and Management, and more.

Theory and practical classes are balanced out with group projects and case studies, in an attempt to create a team player as well as a professional with leadership skills. All aspects of the hospitality industry including hotel and lodging, restaurant and food services, recreation, gaming, and meeting and convention planning are often covered in early classes and students specialize later. 

Business management, team building, strategic planning, marketing, quality control, and integration of technology in the industry are some of the skills that are integral to the course content.

Internship Opportunities

Students with a good track record sometimes get a permanent job offer from their temporary employer after graduating.

Getting a degree in hospitality management generally includes spending a lot of time working in the field.

Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration requires students to work a minimum of 800 hours in a hospitality-related field in order to graduate. In other institutes, students may graduate with 1,400 hours of paid experience.

Hotel students are generally paid for their internships. Once you pick a school it is a good idea to contact the Career Services Office to secure a position with a reputable company. Several US-based hotel companies such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham and Starwood offer internship programs for undergraduates who wish to gain hands-on experience while school is not in session.

The MS and PhD program is really designed for people who want a career in academia.

Students are encouraged to work in various departments alongside professionals. Interns start out at entry-level positions which give them the opportunity to determine what job is the right fit for them. In most cases, academic credits are acquired this way and students with a good track record sometimes get a permanent job offer from their temporary employer after graduating.

Career Opportunities

The range of job opportunities available in the field of hospitality and tourism is vast and varied. It is advisable to do an in-depth study of each specific field of interest. Options include:

Tuition and Fees

Cornell University’s estimated tuition expenses for the 2010-2011 academic year (twelve months, three semesters: mid-May to late-May) is $59,175 for a MMH degree, $29,500 for a research degree and $39,450 for a professional degree. These numbers do not take into account other expenses such as living allowance, health insurance, course material and supplies or other incidental fees.

Cornell University provides the Tata Scholarship for students from India.

The cost of tuition at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland could run into approximately €17,000 per semester for postgraduate diplomas and approximately € 20,000 per semester for its undergraduate programs.

Others like the University of Nevada have discounted tuition for in-state students at the rate of $5,465 while out-of-state students are required to pay the full fee of $18,755. Most schools require international students to have proof of dependable financial resources before enrollment as part of the application process.

Financial Aid and Support

Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are offered to international students in varying degrees based on the availability of funds and the student’s record of academic performance. Cornell University provides students with the Cornell Club of Hong Kong Scholarship, The Robert and Wendy Purcell Scholarship for students from the Philippines and Thailand, and the Tata Scholarship for students from India.

South Asian hotel students can also look at scholarships offered by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation. In 2003, the HSMAI Foundation upped its scholarship offering to four individuals — two students attending university full-time and two students who are studying part-time, all working toward degrees in hospitality programs. HSMAI issues a call for entries for student scholarships in the fall, and announces the recipients in the spring.

Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business requires all international students to be financially secure prior to course enrollment, as their Fellowship Fund (scholarship exclusively for international students) is limited.

It is in your best interest to contact the school before you apply for specific information regarding any financial aid and scholarships available.

Top Schools Compiled by Rakhi Bhandari

According to various sources and internet rankings some of the popular hospitality management schools around the world are: