Hospitality Management Training and Careers

The responsibilities of a restaurant manager include directing and scheduling activities of restaurants, cafés, hotels, fast food outlets and other eating establishments.

Although some duties vary, many include the following:

• Organizing of stock
• Ordering food supplies and equipment
• Inspection of health and safety precautions
• Solving employee or customer problems
• Interview, hire and supervise the training of new staff members
• Organize shifts
• Promote good teamwork
• Pay staff and divide the tips

Essentially, those with hospitality management training are responsible for balancing business expertise with a strong focus on customer service. The duties a hospitality manager could perform are as varied as the places in which they work. Typical tasks include budgeting, public relations, staffing, strategic planning and site development.

Bachelor Degree Options for Hospitality Managers

Students who want to advance in the hospitality field will need a bachelor's degree as well as experience in the restaurant and hotel industry. There are, however, a variety of bachelor's degrees that will qualify you for a job as a hospitality manager. These include bachelor's degrees in:

• Business Administration (with a concentration in Hospitality Management)
• Culinary Management
• Hospitality Management
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Hotel and Restaurant Management

Most of these undergraduate hospitality degree programs cover restaurant development and operations, tourism management, hotel management, human relations, employee training and relevant legal business issues. All of the hospitality-related bachelor's programs also provide training in business subjects like accounting, marketing, finance and business administration.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Focus on Hospitality Management

Graduate students can pursue a master's degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in hospitality management. This degree benefits those who have a bachelor's degree in a non-hospitality-related subject but want to begin a career in the hospitality field or current hospitality managers who want to enhance their skills or advance to a more senior-level position.

In addition to getting a hospitality management education, you will need to gain skills and experience at all levels of your field before advancing to management. This means you may spend time washing dishes, serving meals, answering phones or doing other duties that will give you the firsthand experience that will serve you well in your future role as a hospitality manager.

You should also be able to exercise flexibility; the hospitality and tourism industry operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which means you can expect to work night or weekend shifts at some point in your career.

Finally, to succeed in the industry, you will need to demonstrate exceptional communication and customer relations skills, as well as patience and diplomacy. These talents will help you develop strong relationships with customers and employees, which, in turn, will contribute to your ability to build a thriving business.

At the entry level, graduates of a hotel management school often work as front desk staff in hotels and resorts, registering guests and providing insight to local activities and culture. In the kitchen, aspiring culinary managers may work as cooks and servers, providing an array of meal services from formal and outdoor dining to group events like weddings and business conferences.

After combining this base-level experience with a hospitality management degree or after obtaining a graduate degree in the field, people generally advance to roles as executive chefs, restaurant managers, general managers, guest services managers and directors of specific areas, such as food and beverage, revenue and reservations, sales and marketing, or operations.