Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism

Area

Employer

Information/Strategies

Sub-Area:

• Lodging Management Including:
  • Operations Management
  • Property Management
  • Facility Management
  • Rooms Management
  • Banquet and Catering Management
  • Human Resources
• Restaurant/Food Service Management Including:
  • Operations Management
  • Food Quality and Food Safety
  • Menu Design
  • Production and Service of Food
  • Cost Control
  • Human Resources
• General Management of Other Related Facilities

Employers:

• Lodging: hotels/motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, timeshares, RV parks, and campgrounds
• Restaurants, dining clubs, taverns, and fast food operators
• Food service providers: catering companies, schools, universities, hospitals, and military
• Amusement centers and theme parks
• Historical, cultural, and natural attractions
• Special event and festival organizations
• Conference centers and banquet facilities
• Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas, and stadiums
• Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, recreation centers, fitness facilities, and country clubs
• Ecotourism companies and outdoor outfitters
• Property management companies

Strategies & Information:

• Work in a restaurant, catering facility, campus dining hall, or local hotel to gain relevant experience.
• Acquire supervisory skills and experience by taking on roles such as Assistant Manager or Student Manager.
• Join student professional associations or organizations and seek leadership positions.
• Build a strong foundation in customer service and management. Learn to communicate well with a wide variety of people.
• Learn to work well in teams.
• Develop the ability to make quick decisions independently and to handle stress all while meeting deadlines.
• Prepare to work "from the bottom up" to gain industry experience and to relocate for promotions.

Sub-Area:

• Office Operations
• Reservations
• Sales
• Travel Planning
• Guest Relations

Employers:

• Lodging: hotels/motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, timeshares, RV parks, and campgrounds
• Tour operators and guide services
• Reservation companies
• Historical, cultural, and natural attractions
• Amusement centers, theme parks, and attractions
• Conference centers and banquet facilities
• Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas, and stadiums
• Food service providers: catering companies, schools, universities, hospitals, and military
• Transportation/travel industry: airlines, cruise companies, car rental agencies, travel agencies, airports, motor coach/tour carriers
• Ecotourism companies and outdoor outfitters
• Federal, state, and local government: tourism offices, visitor bureaus, convention centers, and park systems

Strategies & Information:

• Demonstrate enthusiasm for working with the public.
• To succeed in this area, develop an orientation toward service and attention to detail. Learn effective problem solving tools.
• Gain experience in sales through part-time or summer jobs.
• Start in reservations or telephone sales. Master the product line and learn to give excellent service.
• Hone interpersonal communication skills and become adept at communicating with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Take courses in a second language.
• Learn about world geography and international travel regulations.
• Research government job application processes. Intern with government agencies to increase chances of full-time employment.

Sub-Area:

• Convention and Trade Show Planning
• Convention Services Management
• Meeting Planning
• Entertainment/Event Planning
• Athletic Event Planning
• Programs and Activities Planning
• Children's Programming/Planning

Employers:

• Large hotels
• Resorts
• Amusement centers, theme parks, and attractions
• Special event and festival organizations
• Conference centers and banquet facilities
• Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas, and stadiums
• Athletic teams and organizations
• Cruise companies
• Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, recreation centers, fitness facilities, and country clubs
• Trade and professional associations
• State, federal, and local government: tourism offices, visitor bureaus, convention centers, and park systems
• Large corporations

Strategies & Information:

• Take classes in business, commercial recreation, advertising, and public relations.
• Gain experience through planning activities and events for campus and community organizations.
• Work with summer conferences and youth groups that your university may host.
• Complete internships or work part-times jobs with local hotels, conference centers, and banquet facilities.
• Develop the ability to make quick decisions independently.
• Display good planning, organizational, interpersonal, and public speaking skills.
• Learn to think creatively.
• Attend conferences for student organizations and professional associations.

Sub-Area:

• General Sales
• Meeting and Convention Sales
• Incentive Travel Sales
• Media Planning and Development
• Public Relations
• Publicity/Promotions
• Market Research

Employers:

• Tour operators and guide services
• Historical, cultural, and natural attractions
• Lodging: hotels/motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, timeshares, RV parks, and campgrounds
• Reservation companies
• Amusement centers, theme parks, and attractions
• Special event and festival organizations
• Conference centers and banquet facilities
• Food service providers: catering companies, schools, universities, hospitals, and military
• Entertainment industry: casinos, theaters, arenas and stadiums
• Transportation/travel industry: airlines, cruise companies, car rental agencies, travel agencies, airports, motor coach/tour carriers, and rapid transit (AMTRAK)
• Leisure organizations: sporting clubs, fitness/recreation facilities, and country clubs
• Ecotourism companies and outdoor outfitters
• Trade and professional associations
• Federal, state, and local government: tourism offices, visitor bureaus, convention centers, and park systems
• Public or private corporations

Strategies & Information:

• Take additional courses in marketing and advertising.
• Gain experience in sales and customer service through part-time or summer jobs and internships.
• Develop excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills.
• Learn to think creatively in order to develop unique marketing campaigns and sales techniques.
• Join student organizations and professional associations and volunteer for publicity committees.
• Attend conferences and trade shows.
• Start in reservations or telephone sales. Learn the product line and how to deal with travel agents and customers.
• Be willing to relocate to a major city like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami for more opportunities.

Sub-Area:

• Property Acquisition and Development
• Legal Services
• Research/Market Analysis
• Marketing
• Finance and Accounting
• Human Resources:
  • Human Resource Management
  • Recruiting and Training
  • Employee Support Services
  • Labor Relations
  • Compensation and Benefits

Employers:

• Parent corporations for large chains of:
  • Hotels, motels, and resorts
  • Restaurants and fast food operators
  • Food service providers
  • Casinos
  • Amusement centers and theme parks
  • Attractions
  • Fitness facilities
• Airlines
• Cruise companies
• Motor coach/tour carriers
• Rapid transit companies

Strategies & Information:

• Assume leadership roles in student organizations and professional associations. Attend their meetings and conferences.
• Study the industry leaders and trends by reading trade journals.
• Gain experience in decision-making, planning, budgeting, and human resources through internships and summer jobs.
• Develop excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills.
• Prepare to work "from the bottom up" to gain industry experience.
• Be geographically flexible and willing to relocate for promotions.
• Create a network of contacts.
• Obtain a graduate degree in business, law, or a related field to increase opportunities for advancement.

Sub-Area:

• Writing
• Editing
• Research
• Electronic Media

Employers:

• Self-employment/Freelance
• Newspapers, magazines, and trade journals
• Publishers: guide and travel books, travel newsletters
• Internet sites
• Video producers
• Tour operators
• Federal, state, and local government: tourism offices and visitor bureaus

Strategies & Information:

• Study and gain an in-depth knowledge of industry trends.
• Take journalism or English classes to hone writing skills.
• Work for campus newspapers and other publications or write for organizational or departmental newsletters.
• Develop effective research methods and computer skills.
• Practice paying attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Study or work abroad while in school.
• Travel as much as possible in the United States and beyond.

Sub-Area:

• Teaching
• Research
• Administration

Employers:

• Colleges and universities

Strategies & Information:

• Gain professional industry experience. Attend and speak at conferences, trade shows and professional associations. Network in the industry for professional contacts.
• Determine an area of expertise. Gain an in-depth knowledge of that industry, its leaders and trends by reading recent books, journals, and annual reports.
• Develop strong writing and research skills.
• Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong recommendations for graduate school admission.
• Obtain a Ph.D. to teach at the university level. Some community colleges may hire candidates with master's degrees.