The Hosts with the Most: Hospitality Careers Heat Up

Do you love breaking out the guest towels when family and friends come to visit? Is your house home base for parties and out-of-town visitors? Then you should consider earning an online degree in hospitality management.

The Hospitality Balancing Act

Every hotel, restaurant, inn, motel, camp, due ranch, spa, and resort needs to do two things: stay profitable and make guests happy. Hospitality managers are the people who make both those things happen. Successful restaurant and hotel managers need to have innate warmth and concern for guests, as well a strong background in the nuts and bolts of the business of hospitality.

In online hospitality management degree programs, you learn how to manage facilities and costs, the secrets of successful hotel and restaurant marketing. You'll probably also learn a bit about housekeeping, maintenance engineering, and the computer skills needed for reservations, billing, and management systems.

Online Degrees Pay Off

With an online degree in hospitality management you'll be ready for a management-level job in a hotel, restaurant, resort, or casino. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college grads with hospitality management degrees are likely to have the best job prospects in the field.

With such strong job prospects, you'll also have the opportunity to make a good living. The Wall Street Journal's College Journal reports that recent college grads working in the field make approximately $30,000 to $45,000, depending on their position. In addition, with so many large hotel and restaurant chains, not only do you have the chance to make it to the top of your hotel or restaurant, there are many opportunities for advancement at the corporate level.

With an online degree in hospitality management, plus a people-first attitude, there's no limit the potential of your hospitality career.

Sources

• College Journal from the Wall Street Journal
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Hotels and Other Accommodations"
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Lodging Managers"

About the Author
Jessica Phillips is a freelance writer and editor who covers education, careers, and more.