What Can I Do With an Associates in Hospitality Management?

First off: What is Hospitality Management?

Hospitality is a long-standing tradition in many cultures. Across the United States, hospitality is as diverse as the landscape. Tourism changes with location- whether winding your way through historic cities and towns that dot the east coast or hiking the Rockies and surfing the Pacific on the West Coast, there’s something for everyone to explore. The people in the U.S. are equally diverse bringing with them traditional and fused culinary traditions passed down through generations. The restaurant industry booms in cities like New Orleans, San Francisco, and Chicago. Regionally speaking, there’s something unique to discover in even the most remote locations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics leisure and hospitality is the third fastest growing industry only after health care and business. This means that a wide-range of professions are open to individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a flare for the creative. Whether running a restaurant or hotel or planning events, hospitality management careers span a wide spectrum. Let’s take a look at the hospitality management career gambit below!

Hospitality Management Trends

Under the bracket of hospitality management there’s so much opportunity. Once upon a time the term hospitality was centered around hotels, and though hospitality management most certainly includes hotel management, the industry has blossomed to include so much more. One of the reasons is of course the changing times and how that has impacted the industry. Let’s take a quick glance at what influences change in the industry.

  • Technology: with so many individuals taking matters into their own hands they are free to work wherever and whenever. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, and bed and breakfasts fill up with savvy and innovative individuals. As a result, the industry has upgraded-offering better quality equipment, high speed internet, and more. Technology doesn’t just mean computers, it also ties in with travel and tourism. We’re about to make it from New York to Shanghai in 39 minutes so the tourism industry is going to have to brace for impact!
  • Millenials: According to research at the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, Millenial behavior will change how restaurants, hotels, night clubs and more offer various packages. For instance, if catering to a group of people who make many and varied spontaneous decisions, restaurants may want to include an in-house bar, and bars may want to allow for the delivery of services like Uber Eats etc.. When considering discounts on travel, marketers may focus on the ever-evolving rather than the original “tried and true” market of decades past.

What this means is that hospitality is, more so than ever, innovative. Sustainability has entered the realm of supply chain management and hospitality behaviors. People of different cultures may seek to cross them or find something that feels like home. Does your menu reflect your market? Are you ensuring that packaging is not just recyclable and compostable but maybe even giving back to a greater cause? These are the emerging trends that continue to impact and change this thriving field.

Now is the time to get an associate degree in hospitality management. An associate degree in hospitality management is the academic point of entry for individuals looking to make a career in hospitality, and are seeking the most cutting edge information.

What is an Associates in Hospitality Management Degree?

In other fields, an associate degree prepares the individual for an entry-level position. However, in the case of hospitality management, an associate degree can bring you quite a bit further along your career path. Chances are that you have spent some time working in hospitality, service, tourism, or in night life, and are ready to step up your level. An associate degree in hospitality management brings you to the next phase in your career.

An associate’s in hospitality management equips you to learn about the ins and outs of restaurant and lodging operations. Many programs include other areas of interest like event planning, night club management, travel and leisure, tour operations and more. You will learn the fundamentals of business, understand the specifics of your chosen area of interest, and for some, prepare for entrance into a bachelor’s level program.

Every Associates’ in Hospitality Management will vary but the key components of your program will include the following course material:

  • Practical Accounting
  • Principles of Accounting
  • Business Law
  • Organizations and Government Regulations
  • Food and Beverage Management
  • Introduction to Hotel Management Industry
  • Hotel/Lodging Front Office Operations
  • Travel and Leisure
  • Human Resource Hospitality Management
  • Customer Service and Conflict Resolution
  • Work Experience Practicum
  • Introduction to Information Management
  • Principles of Management
  • Leadership
  • Commercial Law
  • Convention Sales and Management
  • Food and Beverage Services
  • Sales
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Microeconomics

Looking Forward: Salary of A Hospitality Manager

According to Payscale, the Average Salary of a Hospitality Manager is $54,638. Here is why:

In a hospitality management position you will be in charge of the general oversight of potentially a restaurant or hotel. You will attend to the finances of the establishment, inspect the premises for code, oversee employee performance, and attend to conflict resolution with customers. As we mentioned above, the are a vast array of careers available under the umbrellas of hospitality management. For those interested in kitchen management specifically, the job duties will be more concentrated and that is certainly reflected in the average salary. An associate’s degree in hospitality management with the position of “kitchen manager” averages a salary of $42,750 according to Payscale. Travel agents mak an average of $35,000 a year, and meeting and event planners will make closer on average to $60,000 per year. In many of these positions salary increases about $15,000-$20,000 annually for individuals holding a bachelor’s degree. As we mentioned earlier and associate in hospitality management, is a great place to start!

Highlights: What Can I do with and Associate in Hospitality Management?

Just to recapitulate the arch of how you can wield your newly acquired Associate in Hospitality management:

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