Are You Interested in Working in Hospitality?

​Have you ever thought about working in hospitality? Or maybe wondered what the hospitality industry is? There isn't really a single answer to that question. Hospitality is a broad field within the service industry and includes a wide range of jobs. The industry's main focus is taking care of the customer. One of its defining qualities is its focus on customer satisfaction through direct human engagement.¹ If you're interested in working in this industry, read more for quick run-down.

Overview

The best way to understand what the hospitality industry entails is by looking at the types of businesses that make it up. Some common pathways for hospitality workers are:¹

• Hotels and Resorts.
  
• Event Planning.
• Transportation.
• Theme Parks and Leisure.
• Restaurants.

The hospitality industry has some overlap with the tourism industry. Depending on their customer's leisure time and disposable income, travel agencies and tour companies may offer services that fall under the hospitality banner.

The hospitality industry is made of two main parts. First, there's a service-based side, which includes servers, event planning, and guest service. Second, there is the cooperate side, which includes management, HR, marketing, and accounting.²

According to this article from Monster.com, many hospitality professionals start in entry-level positions, such as desk associates or housekeepers, and work their way up the chain into managerial positions. This is a great, if not the best, way to both get into and progress in the industry as it gives someone a "bottom-up" perspective of the rather than a "top-down" view.²

Demand Jobs

To get you started, below are a few of the most in-demand jobs in hospitality. This will not be a complete list, and you should feel free to do your own research. A good place to start is our Demand Occupations page. If you're looking for more, check out IDES' hub for Labor Market Information.

Management

Management remains a staple of the industry. Restaurants, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and theme parks all need managers to run smoothly. While management often only requires only a high school diploma, it is not a position you can get without experience. As mentioned earlier, it's a job you may be able to work towards after some time in an entry-level position.

Work in management doesn't require any licenses or certifications but there are ways someone can become certified to bolster their career. A good example is the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA). If you're planning on getting certified, you can do it through the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI).

Hiring for hotel managers is on a positive trend from now until 2022, and there is also a high level of yearly openings for food service managers.

A few skills you'll need to be a good manager include being thorough, detail-oriented, and willing to follow a set schedule. As a manager, you're responsible for the customer experience, so it's not a job to take lightly.

Event Planning

Event Planning is another in-demand hospitality job, as hiring for meetings and conventions is expected to increase by 27% between 2010 and 2022. There's also a modest number of openings per year in this field. If you're interested in getting into this field, now is a great time!

Unlike a manager, a degree in hospitality, communications, PR, or a similar field is required to become an event planner.³ You'll also need to be precise and ready to handle the minutia of planning events. Additionally, event planners must travel a lot to look over possible sites.

Soft Skills Needed!

Hospitality is an industry where you'll be working with people. Because of this, your soft skills will be extremely important. Among soft skills, it's especially great to have good "people skills" and a great attitude. These may be the deal-breaker when it comes to getting a job in this industry.⁴

Many hospitality jobs also require technical skills. However, interpersonal contact is the heart of the industry no matter how you look at it. If you want to work in hospitality, make sure your people skills and attitude are top-notch.

Next Steps

To find jobs in the hospitality field, you can use traditional job boards or networks. For the best results, you should also think about using job sites specifically for the hospitality industry, such as HotellerieJobs.

Sources

¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_industry

²https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/break-into-hospitality

³https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/event-planning-requirements-to-be-an-event-planner.html

⁴https://www.thebalancecareers.com/hospitality-industry-skills-2062407