Plan your career: A bright future in hospitality management

Hospitality courses are in high demand globally, thanks to its huge range of job opportunities in numerous fields with a very promising salary range. Tourism industry is getting more vibrant and it enables hospitality industry to grow with it. 

It accounts for eight per cent of total world jobs and posts higher potential for growth today than any other industry due to phenomenal increase in people travelling for business and leisure. People seem to rely on hospitality industry for comfortable service. 

A number of universities and colleges offer B.Sc degree in Hotel and Hospitality Management. The courses are titled, Hotel and Catering Management, Catering Science and Hotel Management, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Hospitality and Hotel Administration. SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Institute of Hotel Management Technology and Applied Nutrition, all in Chennai, VIT in Vellore, and PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore offer degree courses. 

There are also five-year integrated courses in some states in India. Anna University and a few others offer MBA in Hospitality Services Management and there is also Post Graduate Diploma in Hospitality Management. Even distance education is available in some universities. The course fee for three-year degree ranges between Rs 2,00,000 and Rs 3,00,000. It is a thriving industry and each institute and course structure offer different practical experience. It has a blend of accounting, soft skills, economics, marketing, human resource management and communicative skills. You have to rightly choose the course and college that offers a great curriculum with experienced teachers and has a good network in the hospitality industry. 

Job opportunities in hospitality management spread to operational and corporate side. They include hotels and resorts, restaurants, food and beverage industry, event management, travel and tourism, entertainment, airlines, cruises and other modes of transportations, casinos, catering, human resource management, public relations, purchasing and supply chain, finance and revenue, communication and advertising. 

And jobs such as hotel manager, hotel clerk, bellhop, concierge, supervisors, dieticians and nutritionists, chef, food critic, personnel and training officers, information technologists, planners of meetings and conventions, maître d’ or head waiter, executive chef, housekeeping in-charge, etc. It is a highly competitive sector with unlimited jobs, both nationally and globally. It offers remarkable career paths for the hospitality graduates. It is sought after due to its attractive salary, perks, networking and connections with people. The study also equips you to start your own business with financial and fundamental knowledge of guest services. It is definitely one of the pleasant professions wherein you make people’s day. 

Hence, the profession demands you to be creative. This is one of the professions that you never get stuck in spite of working in the same place for long.