career goals essay hospitality

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What are the career goals in hotel management of students & graduates?

June 28, 2019 •

4 min reading

Is money the main motivator of hotel management students and recent graduates?

Not according to YHS EMPLOYER RANKINGS , a survey, which seeks to define hospitality management students’ employment perception and preferences in terms of recruitment and is issued in conjunction with the Young Hoteliers Summit (YHS), a yearly event hosted at the EHL Hospitality Business School, which brings together student delegates from leading hotel management schools and influential hospitality industry players from around the world.

Indeed, according to the survey of over 1’700 hotel management students and recent graduates, "Good Salary" came only seventh on the list of motivating factors for students - behind:

• "Career Path and Advancement" (cited by 86% of respondents);
• "Training and Development" (cited by 83%);
• "Empowerment & Responsibility" (cited by 82%);
• "Company Culture" (cited by 75%);
• "Work‐Life Balance" (cited by 71%);
• and "Challenging Work Tasks" (cited by 68%).

Meanwhile, "Good salary" was cited by only 65% of respondents and "Job Security" - at 60% - was even further down the list. Regrettably, perhaps, "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of Company", was last on the list, cited by only 44% of respondents.

Interestingly, alumni with more work experience placed more importance on "Empowerment and responsibility" as a motivational factor than did students.

In many ways these results confirm the widely publicised image of millennials who recognise that 'a job for life' is a thing of the past.

A hotel management education can open many doors

For some years, there have been concerns that hotel management students are not really that motivated to work directly in hospitality operations once they graduate.

Indeed, increasingly students –particularly high academic achievers - have sought to work in areas allied to the hospitality sector like consulting and real estate and some have even gone directly into banking or private equity funds. The fact is that the skills learned in a hotel management school are transferable to many areas of the service economy .

After all, most banking jobs are about customer relationships, not about being a financial 'genius'.

PwC prefers hotel management graduates

Several years ago following meetings with some young audit managers in PwC , one the big- four accounting firms, it was revealed that EHL hires were more valued for audit teams than graduates of HEC (Hautes Études Commerciales) Lausanne, one of Switzerland 's top undergraduate business studies programmes.

The reasons given were that hotel management graduates knew how to dress and how to behave in a professional environment; they also, through their internship experiences, knew what it was to work for a boss.

As well, it was felt that hotel school graduates had more concrete notions of accounting than business school graduates who had been fed a lot of theory without much practical application.

So what are the career goals in hotel management?

In fact, the results of the YHS survey showed solid support for careers in traditional hospitality , with 80% of respondents being either "Extremely Motivated" or "Somewhat Motivated" to seek employment in the sector and only 10% saying they are unmotivated.

Most participants answered that they were "extremely" or "somewhat" motivated to work in hospitality consulting, but the overall percentage 70% was less than for traditional hospitality.

Also, there is a significant difference between positive and negative responses in terms of the interest for working in hospitality consulting.

In 2018, more respondents expressed little or no motivation to pursue careers in consulting than in previous years and there was a general decrease in motivation for consulting as positive values decreased slightly, as well.

OTAs (online travel agents) have been a subject of heated discussion in the hotel industry for some years. In spite of the attraction of working for leading technology players like Booking Holdings and Expedia, the latest YHS survey evidenced declining interest in the sector .

Respondents who were either "extremely" or "somewhat" motivated to work for an OTA decreased from 42% in 2016 to 37% currently, while those "extremely" or "somewhat" unmotivated increased from 27% two years ago to 33% now.

Notably, there was a sharp decline in the percentage of respondents 'extremely' interested in working for a start-up which decreased from 41% in 2017 to only 28% presently.

What other industries interest hotel management students?

In all, 55% of respondents were "extremely" or "somewhat" motivated for pursuing careers in other industries.

Students who were motivated to work in industries other than the hospitality sector mentioned: event management (75%), the luxury/fashion industry (59%), the banking industry 51% and healthcare (44%) most frequently.

Nevertheless, event management can be considered to be part of the traditional hospitality sector ; however, apparently, many participants were unclear about this distinction.

Other industries that were mentioned, such as airlines, health and real estate, also have significant links to hospitality .

What motivates hotel management graduates?

Of the participants currently working in traditional hospitality, 91% of those respondents were already "extremely" or "somewhat" motivated to work in the same sector while completing their studies.

Otherwise, 76% of those, who were "extremely" or "somewhat" motivated to work in hospitality consulting as students, are currently working in that sector as graduates.

For the online travel agency and the hospitality start-up sectors, respectively, 80% and 70% of respondents working in those industries were "extremely" or "somewhat" motivated as students.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that 29% of alumni are working in industries other than hospitality .

Senior Lecturer at EHL Passugg

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Hospitality Manager Professional Goals

Getting started as a hospitality manager.

• What is a Hospitality Manager
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• Certifications
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Why Every Hospitality Manager Should Have Goals

Different types of career goals for hospitality managers, operational excellence goals, customer service mastery goals, revenue growth and financial management goals, professional network and reputation goals, personal branding and online presence goals, sustainability and ethical management goals, what makes a good career goal for a hospitality manager , career goal criteria for hospitality managers, guest-centric focus.

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12 Professional Goal Examples for Hospitality Managers

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What is a Hospitality Manager?

More Professional Goals for Related Roles

Fostering client relationships, driving customer satisfaction and business growth

Fostering customer loyalty and business growth through personalized relationship management

Leading customer satisfaction, ensuring service excellence through team management

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Crafting unforgettable journeys, tailoring travel experiences to individual desires

Guide To A Career In Hospitality Management

Updated: Apr 27, 2023, 5:19pm

Hospitality management is a diverse field encompassing several lines of work, including food service management, front desk operations, hotel management and event planning. Hospitality management professionals need excellent communication skills, quick problem-solving abilities and a passion for creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests.

A career in hospitality management is a strong choice for those who enjoy working in teams to provide excellent customer service. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about a career in hospitality management.

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What Is Hospitality Management?

Hospitality management involves overseeing the operations of hospitality-oriented businesses, including hotels, restaurants, bars, resorts and spas. Professionals in this field manage the various aspects of hospitality businesses, including guest services, employee training, food and beverage service, housekeeping, maintenance, marketing and financial management.

The goal of hospitality management is to ensure that guests have a positive experience while maximizing efficiency and profitability.

A hospitality manager can oversee a single business or multiple properties. They may be responsible for managing a team of employees, creating budgets and financial plans, developing marketing strategies, and ensuring that the business complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Food service managers, for example, must ensure that their organization complies with local health and safety regulations.

Hospitality management is a diverse field that requires both broad and specialized skills and knowledge, including leadership, customer service, communications, accounting, management and industry trends.

Hospitality Management Careers

All salary information in this section is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale .

Lodging Manager

Median Annual Salary: $59,430 Required Education: At least a high school diploma, but usually an associate or a bachelor’s in hospitality management degree Job Description: Lodging managers oversee the operations of facilities like hotels and resorts. They ensure that guests have a positive experience, addressing any special requests or complaints.

It’s a lodging manager’s job to make sure guest rooms, public areas and grounds meet company standards. These professionals hire, train and assess the performance of staff members. A lodging manager also keeps track of budgets and expenditures to ensure the facility stays profitable.

Food Service Manager

Median Annual Salary: $59,440 Required Education: High school diploma or equivalent Job Description: Food service managers ensure that a restaurant, bar or other food service establishment runs smoothly and efficiently. Beyond managing employees and operations, food service managers go to lengths to make sure customers are satisfied with their experience.

Food service managers hire and train staff members. They also oversee food preparation and kitchen operations, including ordering supplies, inspecting work areas and ensuring that employees and the establishment follow strict health and food safety protocols.

If customers have complaints regarding food quality or service, the food service manager is called in to problem-solve. Food service managers also oversee budgets and payroll records and establish standards for customer service.

Public Relations Specialist

Median Annual Salary: $62,800 Required Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher Job Description: Public relations specialists in hospitality management shape public perception of hospitality brands. This involves writing press releases, generating demand and fielding information requests from members of the media. Public relations specialists also use social media to shape and maintain the public perception of their clients.

In some cases, public relations specialists draft speeches and arrange interviews for their clients’ top executives. An excellent public relations specialist is skilled in written and verbal communication, has a deep understanding of social media and advertising, and is able to work collaboratively with clients to achieve their communication goals.

Meeting, Convention and Event Planner

Median Annual Salary: $47,470 per year Required Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher Job Description: Meeting, convention and event planners organize social and professional events, including conventions, conferences and weddings.

Regardless of an event’s nature, event planners must determine and coordinate its scope, location and budget. In the hospitality industry, these professionals may be responsible for organizing events, activities and conferences that take place at hotels, resorts or other recreational lodging facilities. Ultimately, their goal is to ensure that events run smoothly and meet the needs and expectations of all stakeholders involved.

Travel Agent

Median Annual Salary: $43,810 Required Education: High school diploma or equivalent Job Description: Travel agents help their clients book and manage vacations and business trips. Part of the job involves understanding clients’ schedules, budgets and travel preferences to plan their itineraries. This might include arranging for tour packages, excursions and day trips.

Travel agents also find fare and schedule information to calculate the total travel costs. They book reservations for travel, hotels, rental cars and tours on behalf of their clients.

Many travel agents advise clients about local customs and attractions, as well as ensure that they have all their necessary documents like passports and visas. Travel agents also educate clients complying with cross-border entry requirements, including health and safety protocols. And if the unexpected happens while a client is on a trip, the travel agent must arrange for alternative travel, lodging or other services.

Hotel Manager

Average Annual Salary: Approximately $62,700 Required Education: At least a high school diploma, but usually an associate or a bachelor’s degree Job Description: Hotel managers oversee the operations of a hotel, a motel or an inn. They hire, train and schedule staff and ensure guests are welcomed and adequately checked in upon their arrival. Hotel managers must oversee the hotel’s budget to maximize profitability and efficiency. This includes managing room rates, negotiating contracts with vendors and forecasting revenue.

Hotel managers may also manage inventory, oversee maintenance and repairs and make sure their hotel complies with all relevant regulations and laws. Hotel managers are responsible for promoting the hotel to potential guests through advertising, marketing and public relations efforts.

General or Operations Manager

Median Annual Salary: $97,970 Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Description: General and operations managers oversee an organization’s multiple departments and/or locations. In the hospitality sector, a general or operations manager may be tasked with ensuring a hotel, resort or similar establishment runs smoothly and efficiently. General and operations managers must also maintain a high level of quality and productivity in the facility on a daily basis.

This role requires excellent leadership, communication and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to make tough decisions and manage competing priorities. Ultimately, the success of a hospitality-oriented establishment depends on the general or operations manager’s ability to set clear goals and objectives, motivate and engage their teams, and adapt to changing circumstances and market conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hospitality Management Careers

What is the highest paying job in hospitality.

General and operations managers are generally the highest paid employees in the hospitality industry, making a median annual salary of $97,970.

Is hospitality management a good career?

Hospitality management is an excellent career choice for driven customer service-oriented professionals. If you enjoy working with customers on a daily basis, managing and collaborating with teams, and ensuring guests have an extraordinary experience in your facility, hospitality management makes for a great career.

Can you make a lot of money in hospitality?

There are lucrative career opportunities in the hospitality industry, especially for those who pursue upper-level management positions. General managers and executive leadership tend to earn more than front desk staff and restaurant workers, for example. Keep in mind that a master’s in hospitality management may unlock higher earning potential.

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Cecilia is a freelance writer, content marketing strategist and author covering education, technology and energy. She is a current contributor to the Forbes Advisor education vertical and holds a summa cum laude journalism degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

6 Reasons to Pursue a Career in the Hospitality Industry

• Katie Davin
• 29 March 2021

Associate Professor Katie Davin  teaches courses in sales, marketing and hotel management in JWU’s College of Hospitality Management.

The hospitality business is a dynamic, fast-paced industry with a variety of flexible career options. While the industry slowed because of the pandemic , it is poised for a rebound. Here are 6 reasons why a career in the hospitality industry is a great choice.

1. The opportunities to grow in the hospitality industry are limitless.

2. the hospitality industry needs you, your talent, and your fresh ideas..

For years, hospitality companies have faced an ongoing shortage of qualified managers and employees. That means plenty of opportunities for aspiring hospitality professionals. John Brich of SearchWide said that attracting talent is “an enormous issue and one that has been around even pre-pandemic. As employers and industry leaders, we continue to struggle to attract talent from the younger generation and other industries.”

Hospitality companies are interested in hiring innovative people who can share their creative ideas and invent new ways of taking care of customers. Bob Anderson, president of Star Performance Inc., said, “The new graduating students are willing to learn, are not stuck with old habits and can be molded into star performers.”

3. Experience is important, but it’s not difficult to get your foot in the door.

Anyone interested in a career in the hospitality industry should try it out — get in there and work at a hospitality business. It’s a chance to earn some money and find out if the industry is right for you. There are many entry-level positions in hospitality, in which new employees can gain skills, learn service systems, and work with customers. Summer can be an excellent time to score a job in hospitality, since that is vacation season and employers are looking for seasonal staff. Resorts, country clubs, theme parks, sports stadiums, caterers and tourist attractions are all great places to find seasonal employment. For students studying hospitality, internships are an additional path for gaining experience beyond the entry level. In JWU’s College of Hospitality Management , we require internships, which give students opportunities to learn on the job and apply the knowledge that they have learned in their classes. We also encourage students to start getting experience in the industry as soon as possible, even before the internship, and to keep working in the industry in the summers. Multiple work experiences provide more than just skills; they also help the students figure out which jobs and which segments of the industry they like the most.

The perception that hospitality professionals spend their entire careers on their feet and working holidays is a myth.

4. The hospitality industry is on the verge of a strong rebound.

At the time of the publication of this article in the first quarter of 2021, executives and managers in hospitality companies are gearing up for a rapid increase in demand. They are bringing back furloughed employees and recruiting new staff in anticipation of a restless population hitting the road again this summer and fall. The industry has already begun to bounce back. In February, employment in leisure and hospitality added 355,000 jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In its 2021 Travel Outlook, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) reported that 56% of consumers say they expect to travel for leisure in 2021, which is about the same amount as in an average year. The long-term future of the hospitality industry is more promising, with leisure and business travel expected to return to pre-pandemic levels as soon as 2023.

5. It is possible to have a successful hospitality career and a healthy work-life balance.

The perception that hospitality professionals spend their entire careers on their feet and working holidays is a myth. Career hospitality professionals can and do balance work and life in a healthy way. It is true that many hospitality operations are open 24 hours a day. It is also true that hospitality employees and managers need to run those operations on the weekends and holidays. However, not all employees are required to work every weekend and every holiday. In addition, companies have become more generous with time off in recent years, because they have learned that employees with reasonable work schedules are more likely to stay with the company. More important, the further up the career ladder you climb, the more likely your schedule will become a more traditional weekday schedule. Regional managers and vice presidents work hard, but they do not have to open the restaurant for breakfast or run the overnight shift.

6. Hospitality is fun.

It may seem impossible to have fun at work, especially in a fast-paced industry that has demanding customers. However, hospitality is a fun, exciting, and dynamic business. “Hospitality is not an ‘at your desk’ typical day profession,” says Pat Kobela, regional director of sales for Chartwell Hotels. Every day is different in a hospitality operation. New events are happening, different guests are arriving and departing, and outside factors, such as weather and traffic, can affect customer demand every day.

The people who choose to work in hospitality tend to be wonderful colleagues, too. I left hospitality management to become an educator quite a few years ago, but I am still close with my friends from the hotel business. We had fun working together and built lifelong friendships with each other.

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