There are a multitude of different career paths within the hospitality industry and, despite what some people may think, it can lead to countless prospects, career progression and a great salary.
If you’re still in doubt, here are four careers you can consider after studying a hospitality degree, and ways you can continue with your education.
Career paths to consider
Hotel Manager
If you’re someone who enjoys multitasking and team leadership, then the role of hotel manager could be perfect for you. A hotel manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the hotel and its staff. As well as heading up budgeting and finance, a hotel manager must take all hotel services into consideration, including food and beverages, housekeeping and front-of-house. In larger establishments, hotel managers may be assigned a specific aspect to run. A hotel manager also has the responsibility of innovating, providing insight and strategically planning in order to maximise the company’s profits. The starting salary for a hotel manager generally ranges from anywhere between £19,000 to £40,000, depending on factors such as the size and location of the hotel or chain.
Event Organiser
Event organisation has risen in popularity over recent years, and while there are now degree programmes specifically for event organisation, studying a hospitality degree is another great way to enter the industry, without overly limiting your skillset or prospects. From thinking up event ideas, to organising and running the event itself, event organisation requires meticulous attention to detail and the ability to cope well under pressure. An event organiser may work on a huge variety of events, from music festivals and fundraising events, to weddings, parties and even product promotions and conferences. Entry level roles usually start at around £16,000, with manager roles sometimes rising beyond £50,000.
Catering Manager
A catering manager is responsible for organising and developing food and beverage services within a business or organisation, ensuring that all services meet customer demands and needs, as well as reaching a set budget and hygiene standards. In a small business, a catering manager will likely be hands-on and an active member of the catering team; in larger companies, a catering manager may have people to delegate smaller tasks to. Places of work can range from hotels and cruise ships, to hospitals and even prisons, and tasks include setting menus, managing costs and maintaining stock. Trainee catering managers can earn between £15,000 and £21,000, with the potential to earn upwards of £45,000 once they begin climbing the career ladder.
Casino Manager
A casino manager – also referred to as a gaming manager – oversees the day-to-day operations within the casino that employs them. Their duties include but are not limited to staff supervision, monitoring security services and all gaming areas, and ensuring that all operations are above board and that they comply with regulatory requirements. A casino manager should be self-motivated, have great people skills and have strong communication skills in order to work well alongside and manage team members. The average salary for a casino manager in the UK lies around the £40,000 mark.
Continuing your education
Only a small percentage of hospitality graduates continue with their education, with most preferring to acquire industry experience and work their way up the ladder rather than studying for a postgraduate degree. If you’d like to continue your education and acquire experience, there are postgraduate courses available that have placement as a compulsory part of the course.
If you do wish to continue with your education, it may be worth specialising in a specific area of hospitality. You may even be able to find sponsorship, if you secure a role with a company before starting your studies.
At LCCA, we offer several courses in hospitality, including the HNC, HND and an online MA in International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management. For more information, please visit our course pages.