Jobs for graduates of hospitality and tourism management programs from universities find a rosy employment outlook with high paying positions because of the doors that often open with a university degree.
Positions are plentiful in the tourism and hospitality field because of the range of employment locations, types and levels in organizations. Finding the right education to launch a career in travel, tourism or hospitality is important.
What Makes an Excellent Hospitality and Tourism University Degree Program?
Jitendra Jain, an expert in hospitality education, notes 10 basics for choosing a hospitality and tourism degree program. First, the university should be recognized and accredited. This allows graduates to hit the job market with the credibility of the university behind them.
In addition, students searching for hospitality and tourism management degree programs should look at the course levels and options. A university degree takes longer, up to four years, however, the job prospects in the management ranks at tourism and hospitality employers increases substantially with more postsecondary education.
What Tourism, Hospitality Careers Result from Degrees?
Three broad types of positions are found in the hospitality and tourism field: supervisory or management positions, independent entrepreneurs who start up businesses in tourism and hospitality and front-line jobs where people work directly with customers.
In each of these types of positions, people often find the jobs demand travel for a living.
Some example of specific employment opportunities and types of employers for hospitality and tourism management graduates include:
- Private tour companies that operate recreational and tourism enterprises such as retail outlets, spas, fitness facilities and tourism attractions
- Marketing, advertising and providing guided tours at tourism destinations, resorts or hotels
- Nature or eco-based green jobs for recreation areas and parks offering camping and wilderness adventure tourism
- Special events such as festivals and workshops and other tourism services at holiday destination hotels, resorts, theme parks, convention spaces and attractions
- Planning and operating non-profit services for agencies that offers health, leisure and sport programs
- Jobs in food service and accommodation locations such as universities, colleges, hospitals, large resort operations, convention centers and airlines
In Canada, the University of Guelph’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management ranks as the top hospitality and tourism program in Canada, according to an international study from the University of Central Florida.
Guelph offers a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a Hotel and Food Administration major or co-operative education major and a Tourism Management major. The university also offers a Masters of Business Administration in two fields: Food and Agribusiness Management or Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Hospitality and Tourism Management Degree Opportunities Plentiful
As a top holiday destination in the United States, it is no surprise that one of the country’s leading tourism and hospitality management university degree programs is found in Florida.
Florida International University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is one of the highest rated hospitality and tourism programs in the U.S. with an annual enrolment of 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students.
The university offers a range of tourism and hospitality management degree options that reflect the scope of opportunities in the job market.
It has a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, Master of Science in Hospitality Management and Executive Master of Science in Hospitality Management degree programs, as well as certificate programs in various hotel, restaurant, hospitality, travel and tourism specializations.
People who love the thought of being able to travel for a living and work in a variety of hospitality and tourism locations and jobs should consider a degree in this field. These types of dreams jobs are found around the world and close to home.
Shelley Aylesworth-Spink - Shelley Aylesworth-Spink has worked in support of communications, marketing and advertising for nearly 25 years in the private and public ...
