Hospitality degrees abroad

A Student's Guide to Hospitality & Tourism Management - 2019

Are you constantly daydreaming about your next big adventure, checking flight prices to faraway destinations, and planning fun itineraries for you and your travel buddies? A hospitality and tourism program might be right up your alley! 

While you love lounging on the beach at a resort in Bali, you’re curious about the business behind the scenes. What drives travelers to pick their destination, what makes an incredible experience, and what impact do tourism and travel have on local communities? 

Studying tourism and hospitality management is your ticket to one of the highest growing industries today: According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism has experienced continued growth and diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world!

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that 1 of every 10 jobs on the planet are in the hospitality and tourism industry, which also accounts for 1 in 5 of all new jobs created over the last five years. That means there’s plenty of opportunities to create a career in this ever-growing industry.

If you’re a world traveler who’s also organized, business-minded, hard-working, and a friendly people-person, read on to discover why a hospitality and tourism management program could be the perfect fit for you!

What is a hospitality and tourism degree?

According to our recent survey of over 32,000 students around the world, interest in hospitality and tourism programs has increased by 9%! That’s thanks in part to the wide range of program options to choose from. Certificate programs focusing on one area of study are more suited for professionals seeking to upskill, while broader undergraduate or graduate level programs provide students with an in-depth look at all areas of the industry.

Hospitality and tourism degrees can specialize in one area of the industry, like sustainable tourism development, or cover a wide range of topics. These can include courses in management, accounting, sales and marketing, business administration, product design, intercultural communication, and much more!

Many programs provide students the opportunity to travel abroad to gain hands-on experience and training in the industry through an internship. Students of hospitality or tourism will often study a modern language in conjunction with their degree to better equip themselves for an international career.

How long does it take to get a hospitality and tourism management degree?

While certificates in tourism or hospitality can be completed in as little as two weeks, studying at a bachelor’s level usually takes three or four years. At a master’s level, studies will last one or two years. 

At a bachelor’s level students will be introduced to the travel and leisure industry, learning basics in business administration and hospitality and tourism studies and important underlying theories. In the second or third year, students will often take their studies abroad to gain important practical knowledge in the industry. Degrees may conclude with a bachelor’s level project or thesis.

A master’s degree in hospitality and tourism is usually focused on a single track like sustainability, policy making, or administration and management. These degree plans are often research-based and conclude with a master’s thesis. 

What is the relationship between hospitality and tourism?

The hospitality and tourism career cluster is focused on management, marketing, and operations of restaurants and food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events, and travel related services. While jobs in this career cluster can overlap both sectors, there are some differences between hospitality and tourism that can affect your career outlook.

While the differences between hospitality and tourism are slight, it’s important to consider which career path interests you the most before deciding on a program. Most programs will combine both subjects and many include an internship or work experience so you’ll have first-hand knowledge of the industry before you graduate.

Choosing a tourism and hospitality degree

When deciding which hospitality and tourism management program to pursue, you should try to answer the following questions:

• How much time can I devote to a program?

• Do I need to travel or relocate to study a program?

• How much can I afford to spend on a program?

• What skills do I hope to gain from a program?

• What kind of certification or degree do I want to receive?

These questions will help you decide whether to opt for an online course from the comfort of your home, a certification in a specific area or topic of interest, or a longer undergraduate or graduate program at a university. 

The program you choose will depend on your level - are you looking for an entry-level position or do you hope to advance to a managerial position? You can check job ads that sound interesting to you and search for programs that meet the job requirements.

Helpful advice from hospitality and tourism management graduates

We talked with some graduate students who had recently completed their programs in hospitality and tourism or are currently undertaking it to see what they thought about their program and if they have any advice to share with you.

"Since it was a 4-year degree, there were many subjects. I was able to touch all branches of this huge industry and to choose the one that fits the most with my personality and professional objectives."

-  Irati Icardo, Bachelor’s degree in Tourism from Universidad de Deusto

What questions should you ask a university to find the right hospitality and tourism management program?

We also asked the same students above if there were any questions they asked or wished they had asked during the research and application process to determine which program was right for them. Here were the most common and helpful questions they think you should be asking universities before you apply.

• Is the program specialized in certain areas of the tourism industry?

• Are there opportunities to take part in an academic exchange program?

• Are there any language courses offered?

What should I look for in a university for studying hospitality and tourism management?

If you’re interested in studying tourism or hospitality at a university level, the best programs combine theory with practice. Independent and classroom study should be combined with practical projects like group work to design your own travel event or marketing campaign.

Get experience abroad

A hospitality and tourism management degree should prepare students for a career in the travel industry so experience in the field is key. Many programs include a mandatory study abroad component that may be combined with an internship to give students experience working in a tourism or hospitality company abroad.

Learn another language

It’s also important to choose a university program with a mandatory language component if you are not multilingual. Being able to converse across language barriers is a huge benefit in an international field like hospitality and tourism.

Take advantage of the available resources

Finally, look for a program that has outstanding resources and facilities. Many programs end in a research project, so a well-equipped library and study space is important. Also consider the staff—do they have experience in the field? This can provide you with the best connections to jump start your career in the hospitality and tourism management industry!

Types of hospitality and tourism accreditation

Now that you’ve narrowed down your list of schools or programs based on the above criteria, it’s important to verify that the school is accredited.

Accreditation is the process of confirming that an institution of higher education meets the strictest educational standards. Accrediting bodies are private, nongovernmental organizations who share the goal of evaluating schools and programs to make sure they meet the highest quality standards.

The benefits of choosing an accredited school are many. Accreditation ensures the highest quality of education, makes it easier to determine the value of college credits, allows students to apply for federal loans or grants, is considered by potential employers, and pushes schools to continually improve. Besides national or regional accreditation, students interested in the tourism industry should look for the following accreditation:

Careers in Hospitality and Tourism

As one of the world’s largest industries with a global economic contribution of over 7.6 trillion U.S. dollars in 2016, the travel and tourism industry is a great field to pursue a career in. Last year, travel and tourism comprised 1/10 of all jobs (319 million)! The hospitality and tourism industry is diverse, but here are some potential hospitality and tourism jobs:

• Travel consultant
• Product manager for a travel company
• Marketing Manager
• Hotel/Resort Manager
• Sustainable Tourism Expert
• Event Planner
• Guest Relations Manager
• Executive Chef

What are tourism and hospitality management salaries?

The salary you can expect from a career in hospitality and tourism can vary based on the job title and responsibilities. Since there are such a wide variety of options to choose from, we’ve broken it down into some popular career choices:

Popular universities to study hospitality and tourism management