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Hospitality Management MBA

May 1, 2021 6:09 pm0 commentsViews: 2984

Students who are interested in pursuing management careers in hotels, resorts, and other businesses in the industry have the option to reach out for a Hospitality Management MBA. The positions in this area will focus entirely on the management roles in these types of businesses and will require students to have demonstrated a solid understanding of how the lodging, tourism, and hospitality industry functions. This course of study is most often pursued by those who are already working in the hotel and hospitality industry and are looking to advance their careers or for those who want to specialize in research in one of the core areas of the industry.

What Is a Hospitality Management MBA?

The Hospitality Management MBA prepares students for employment in a variety of careers that cater to both international and domestic travelers. Throughout their course of study, students will develop strong leadership abilities and enhanced customer service skills. There will also be a concentration on hotel staffing, restaurant management, and managing resort revenues as well. Many students will complete their course of study through co-ops or internships with a focus on marketing and leadership strategies.

Specific Requirements

Requirements to get into a Hospitality Management MBA usually include those who already have completed a Bachelors Degree. Most schools will require that the students have reached a minimum GPA and have provided a number of personal references to support their ability to complete the course of study. There are a number of different paths a student can choose when pursuing a Hospitality MBA, so some students may need to complete a number of prerequisite courses in certain topics before entering that field of concentration. Course such as Hospitality Law and Event Management could require completion before a student can enter the program.

Types of Courses to Expect

The curriculum required in an MBA will usually cover the core business courses in accounting and economics. This will be true for all MBA courses, but in addition, a Hospitality Management MBA will also include studies in the areas of ethical management, career planning, and research methods. In addition to classes in:

  • Financial Management
  • Organizational Structure
  • Hospitality Services
  • Human Resources Management
  • Research Methodologies
  • Statistics

Students will also be expected to cover topics in Management Theories and complete an advanced level of industry-specific knowledge. Depending on the student’s concentration they may also be required to present a research requirement in their specialized field before they can successfully complete the program.

Areas of Specialization

The area of hospitality management is broad and the positions offered in this area are global and therefore can span through many different industries. Students can reasonably pursue a specialty in any number of venues including spas, resorts, travel centers, restaurants, casinos, hotels and more. Those in these fields will need strong customer service skills and will interact with others on many levels. A hospitality working can choose to specialize in event planning, scheduling, travel services, management, or even maintenance.

For those who wish to stand out in this field, there is also the option of a concentration in technology to help you to stand out. Students can add a focus on study in Management Information Systems with a concentration on databases and spreadsheets. Others may choose to concentrate on getting additional certifications from organizations like the American Hotel & Lodging Educations Institute. These organizations may offer certifications in front desk management, revenue management, housekeeping management, or maintenance management.

Career Path and Salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hospitality industry will have a moderate growth of slightly less than 1% between now and the year 2029. However, there are some areas like meeting, convention, and event planners that are expected to see a major growth spurt of around 8%. With a median income ranging an average of $51,560, the career promises to be wide open.

However, for those who want to reach out for even higher positions the possibilities to teach at the collegiate level or conduct research in their area of specialization can enter a doctoral program in hospitality management. These programs will have a stronger concentration on sales and marketing as well as real estate management studies.

Students can also reach out for additional certifications that are offered from professional hospitality organizations like the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute. Students who are eligible can take written exams and earn special credentials in certain areas.

The hospitality industry is a wide open field with specialties that overlap into many other industries. Students reaching out for these types of opportunities will find that there is an endless number of directions for them to reach out for that can lead to major successful ventures in their professional future.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Leisure and Hospitality and Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners represents national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data Accessed May 2021.

Online Hospitality Management MBA

If the possibility of being more qualified for leadership positions and standing out more in a sea of applicants for those very coveted careers appeals to you, then earning a higher level degree is often times the best way to do that.  An MBA focused on the Hospitality Industry can be just the step you need, and with online and no GMAT options becoming increasingly available, many of the obstacles of achieving these degrees are being erased.  The following options detail some great choices for programs that can accomplish this.

  1. Purdue University – Purdue offers a online Master’s in Hospitality & Tourism Management which is a business-focused hospitality degree designed to help managers with hospitality industry experience rise to new levels. It provides the executive management, leadership and analytical skills you need to advance your career within the industry.
  2. South University:  If you have an undergraduate degree and a GPA of 2.7 or higher, there is no GMAT required for admission to their online MBA program.  Created in order for working professionals to have a way to balance their current lives while working towards the life they long for.  Cross-functional teamwork is used to develop skills across many areas that exist in modern organizations.  51% of students complete this program in 15 months.
  3. Glion Institute of Higher Education:  This 100% online program is designed to develop leadership skills by motivating teams and improving organizational performance.  The program requires 2 years plus the time for the Applied Business Project (16-30 weeks) to complete. The Master of Business Administration in International Hospitality and Service Industries Management adds a large global scope to the learning, with a diverse student body from 48 countries, only 16% of whom are currently in North or South America.
  4. Sullivan University:  Their admissions criteria does not require a GMAT score.   Their “Stair Steps to Success” approach involves a unique formula wherein the students take specialized courses earlier on in their education that can be applied to their current employment situations and have many of their general education courses during their final few months or quarters of the degree program.  This Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality Management involves 48 credit hours.
  5. East Carolina University:  This online MBA program focuses on analytical skills in problem solving and decision making.  With 10 years of work experience, the GMAT requirement is waived.  There are core courses that are required, then there is flexibility with remaining classes to tailor your program to your specific interests, which includes Hospitality Management.  They have implemented a system of support services for online students, which covers all aspects of your education.
  6. Drexel University Online:  This online MBA program does not require GMAT scores if applicant has at least 5 years of management experience or demonstrated constant progression throughout their career.  The online program is a 24 month part-time program that has internationally-renowned faculty members and small class sizes enhance interaction among peers and instructors.
  7. University of North Carolina:  This completely online MBA program involves both live technology platforms involving interactive communications and self-paced coursework.  The diverse virtual teamwork copies the environment that exists in the modern workplace.  The 2-year program is entirely online except for 2 mandatory residency courses.  GMAT can be waived with at least 2 years of full-time post-baccalaureate professional employment. UNC is featured in the 50 best affordable online MBA programs
  8. Schiller International University:  There is no GMAT required for this program if the applicant holds an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.4 or higher.  The International Hospitality and Tourism Management MBA takes two semesters and one summer session to complete, and can be done online.  Designed to provide leverage for corporate advancement through advanced-level knowledge and skills in managerial positions.
  9. Fayetteville State University:  This program offers many choices for possible students, and no GMAT is required with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher.  The goals of this program is to boost your skills in communication, analysis, IT critical thinking, legal understanding, and ethics. The core 27 credit hours is followed by 9 credit hours of the specialization of choice. This program in able to be taken all online.
  10. University of Scranton:  This 36-hour online MBA program utilizes technology-enhanced management tools.  Specializations can be established through a general MBA curriculum that focuses on core ethics and social responsibility.  The classes are capped at 20 students and mentors facilitate individual relationships with each of the students.