A Beginners Guide to Hospitality ManagementHospitality management is a broad industry, containing positions for people with many different skill sets. The first step in beginning a career in this field is to decide which of these positions to pursue. The three most common hospitality jobs are lodging management, food service management, and event planning.

Food service management is the ideal career for those who enjoy feeding people but are not so fond of cooking. Food service managers control the day-to-day operations of restaurants, clubs, bars, and other businesses that sell food. They hire, train, and supervise employees, inspect and replace inventory and supplies, explore and resolve customer complaints, and maintain all budgets and financial bookkeeping. With a median wage of $47,960 per year (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), food services managersare among the higher paid hospitality managers.

Food Service The bare minimum required for a job in this field is a high-school diploma. Because the market for these jobs is so tight--the number of jobs is only expected to grow by 2% (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics)-- it would be wise to consider earning a bachelor's degree in food service management. It is also necessary to have several years of prior experience in a related profession. If you've worked as a cook, table server, or dining room attendant, you can improve your chances of becoming a food service manager.

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Lodging Managers oversee motels, hotels, and inns. They inspect rooms, check guests in, inspect and resolve guests' complaints and questions, keep track of finances, design and enforce standards for their businesses, and hire, train, and fire staff. Because hotels are open at all hours year-round, lodging managers often have to work on holidays and weekends, and must be available twenty-four hours a day. In 2012, the median annual wage for lodging managers (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) was $46,800.

Lodging ManagersAs with food service management, the labor market for lodging managers is tight and is expected to add almost no new jobs over the next decade. To get a job, it is usually necessary to have a bachelor's degree in hospitality management. You can technically apply for this job with only a high school diploma, but you're unlikely to advance past being an assistant manager. It is also necessary to have several years of prior experience working in the lodging industry. It helps to be proficient in multiple languages, especially languages like Spanish or Mandarin that many visitors are likely to speak.

Event planners plan conventions, weddings, and other large-scale meetings. They first meet with clients and get a general description of how the event should look. They then decide on the specific timing of the event, look for possible locations, inspect those locations ahead of time, and review the bills. They coordinate food service, transportation, and room assignments, and attend the event to make sure that all guests are satisfied. Event planners often work irregular hours, and must be willing to travel frequently. The median annual pay in this field is $45,810 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
 
Event Planning Event planning is a growing industry, expected to grow 33% between 2012 and 2022 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). It is relatively easy for someone with the right qualifications to get a job as an event planner. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in hospitality or tourism management. Prior experience in this field is helpful, but not required. Event planners who organize events involving people from other countries should have valid U.S. passports, and will ideally be proficient in multiple languages.

If you are looking for a way to start a career in hospitality management or event planning, ECPI University's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Hospitality Management, is a great place to start. If you are looking for a way to start a career in food service management, ECPI University's Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management degree program is a great place to start! For more information, visit our website today! It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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