Do you love creating fun and memorable experiences for others? Do you want to help people take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and savor good living? Do you like overseeing projects with lots of different moving parts? If so, you may want to consider going to school for hospitality management.

What is hospitality management?
Hospitality management is the supervision and direction of operations at companies and venues focused on guest services. The job is typically related to the tourism industry and includes running hotels and other types of lodging, but it can also be associated with the overseeing of guest services at spas, restaurants, apartment complexes, amusement parks, casinos, clubs and other related businesses.

Hospitality management is focused on creating superior guest experiences. If you went on a fantastic family vacation as a child, hospitality management employees played a large role in making your trip memorable. Professionals in this area work hard to create positive, unforgettable experiences for guests that will turn them into repeat customers and ensure every aspect of their stay is taken care of.

Overseeing operations
Hospitality management involves overseeing many different employees and departments at a business. For example, at a hotel, hospitality managers check in with food service, housekeeping, accounting and entertainment staff to make sure operations are running smoothly and working together in harmony. If there are disruptions in one area, hospitality managers need to be able to step in and ensure the problem is solved swiftly.

While these duties face inward toward the company, the hospitality manager also has the important responsibility of dealing with the public. They are often the face of their hotel or other business and interact with guests on a daily basis to ensure they are fully satisfied with their experience at the venue.

Salary prospects for hospitality managers 
According to Salary.com, the median annual salary for a hotel manager as of January 2018 was $104,226. However, pay is dependent upon the experience of the employee and the size, prestige and profits of the venue where they work and its booking rates.

How do you become a hospitality manager?
The career path for a hospitality manager often includes both on-the-job experience and advanced education. Internships and jobs at hotels, inns, spas, entertainment complexes and other guest-service-focused venues help expose interested individuals to the day-to-day operations of the position and provide experience in customer service and guest relations. Individuals may start their work experience in a lower-level role at the company and work their way up.

Many people who want to become hospitality managers first receive their undergraduate degree in business, hospitality or a related field. Then, to advance to management positions or take on additional leadership roles, or garner more competitive salaries, those interested in this field often complete a master’s degree in hospitality management and continue working at venues for additional experience. Many schools have reputable tourism and hospitality programs and students will often take on short-term work assignments around the world to further hone their expertise.

What skills are required to work in hospitality management?
Hospitality management requires an unwavering commitment to creating outstanding guest experiences. This requires superior communication and customer service skills, as well as an understanding of sales. Hospitality managers should be laser-focused on details, with the ability to see beyond the generalities into the specifics of what makes a vacation great, from the cleanliness of rooms to the ability of concierges to make expert recommendations on itineraries. They should be able to manage and coordinate teams, as they’ll oversee a wide variety of departments that will need to work in unison. Hospitality managers should also be effective and creative problem-solvers, skilled at diffusing conflict and keeping customers happy.

If you have an interest in creating memorable travel and tourism experiences for guests, consider pursuing a degree in hospitality management. With expertise in this field, you have the ability to help families and individuals make positive, long-lasting memories of fun and relaxation.