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Online Hospitality Management Degrees

The hospitality industry is booming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 11 million people were employed in food service and accommodation businesses in July 2011. Those employees include ticket takers at theme parks, top chefs at five-star hotels and the management professionals responsible for overseeing them all.

Although many people enter into the hospitality industry without formal training, management positions may require the skills taught in a college degree program. Hospitality management education ranges from certificate programs requiring a few introductory classes to master's degrees heavy with industry research. Accelerated programs that offer joint bachelor's and MBA degrees in hospitality take place over five years. Many schools offer hospitality specializations such as hotel management, food service management or tourism.

Online hospitality management degrees

Because hospitality degrees emphasize business education skills such as critical thinking, research, collaborating with teammates and written communication, they can be a good fit for the online environment. Online courses can enhance a learner's experience with rich, multi-media resources that include videos, online simulations and interactive discussions.

In online hospitality management programs, students get introduced to the same classes, such as budgeting or leadership, as students in on-campus programs and can pursue a hospitality internship offline for academic credit.

Online degrees in hospitality management and post-baccalaureate certificate programs also offer a way for managers to stay up-to-date with changing technologies and research or focus on niche skills, such as strategic hospitality or hospitality marketing. They can also provide a path to career advancement for those looking to work their way up in the industry.

The work values of hospitality managers

The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) operated by the Department of Labor reports that hospitality managers in food service and accommodations share two chief work values: independence and relationships. These managers need to have the creativity and responsibility to work on their own, but they also value a friendly workplace that allows them to provide top-notch service to others. These careers tend to attract leaders who can make decisions and follow through with projects.

Careers in hospitality management

Hospitality careers are varied and can be found in many types of establishments, including food service and accommodations. According to 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, limited-service eateries, such as delis and full-service restaurants employed two-thirds of hospitality managers.

The mean annual wage for all food service managers was $52,220 in 2011, which is slightly lower than lodging manager's earnings of $54,570. Approximately 88 percent of hospitality management careers in accommodations can be found in hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns and were paid a mean wage of $53,970 in 2011. Other hospitality management positions can be found in unexpected places like campgrounds and recreational vehicle (RV) parks, catering and events companies and colleges.

Hospitality management at a glance

Careers: food service manager, bed and breakfast inn keeper, college campus housing manager
Salaries: $46,070-$54,160 in 2011 (BLS)
Course work: hospitality statistics, purchasing, legal issues in hospitality

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