Major Monday — Hospitality Administration and Management
You love the comfort and ease of going away, but do you ever wonder why life is so easy on vacation? There are many people behind the scenes ensuring that you have a relaxing and welcoming environment when you go out of town. If you’re interested in the field of travel, have a strong organization sense and want to help people find their home away from home then you might want to consider majoring in hospitality administration and management.
Education
This major is typically earned at the associate’s or bachelor’s degree level. In high school, it’s helpful to take classes like business, family and consumer studies and foreign language to prepare yourself for this major. At the college level, expect to take classes such as employee labor relations, food service operations, hospitality finance, hospitality law, marketing, resort operations and more. Additionally, be prepared to plan out a major event from start to finish — you might just be surprised at the detail and effort that it takes to pull everything off without a hitch.
What to know before you apply
While the job market is expected to grow through 2016, you’ll still have to be a standout candidate upon graduation by gaining the proper knowledge and experience in all aspects of the job. That means you should be prepared to not only learn about the hospitality industry but also geography, accounting, business and communication. You should also figure out if you like a certain part of the industry more than others — whether it be food service, hotel management or anything else that serves travelers and vacationers — and hone on those skills.
Salary
According to BLS.gov, lodging managers earned an average of $57,230 per year as of 2014.
