Online Hotel Management Degree Programs

Although many first-level managers may be promoted from within, executive level hotel management jobs require a four-year degree due to increasingly complex requirements of hotel management positions. You can start or advance your hotel management career by earning a bachelor's or master's degree in hotel management or a related field.

Hotel Management Positions: What to Expect

As a hotel management professional, you'll supervise a large number of employees, while ensuring that all services and facilities meet your guests' highest expectations. Hotel managers oversee assistant managers who supervise various departments including culinary, guest services, rooms, facilities, finance, and marketing. You'll be responsible for coordinating multiple departments, employees, and activities while working within assigned budgets and maintaining profitability for your organization. As a hotel management professional, you can expect to work weekends and holidays, and/or to be on call, particularly during peak travel periods. If you work for a large corporation with many properties, you may have opportunities for international travel, and will likely enjoy travel discounts and upgrades.

Hotel Management Degrees and Career Training

Hotel managers and assistant managers typically establish policy and make decisions about general and day-to-day operations. Skills required of hotel management professionals include leadership, written and oral communication, problem-solving and analytical techniques, and the ability to work with and supervise people with diverse personalities and backgrounds. Depending on the nature and location of your job, bilingual skills may be required.

Career training for hotel management professionals often includes related work experience and a bachelor's degree in hotel management, business, or marketing. It's also possible to focus your career training on one area of management such as restaurant management or public relations. You'll complete required core courses and also study according to your major and/or area of specialization. Courses in business, marketing, human relations, and the humanities are useful for hotel management careers.

You can earn your hotel management or other applicable degree by attending traditional college courses on campus, taking courses online, or combining classroom and online courses to suit your schedule and learning preferences. Financial aid may be available, and if you currently work in hospitality or a related field, your employer may offer tuition assistance.

Hotel Management Degree Programs Enhance Career Options

As of March 2006, the most recent year for which information is available, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the median salary of hotel management professionals was $42,000, and that approximately 58 percent of all hospitality-related jobs were offered by establishments with more than 100 employees. Job prospects are expected to increase about as fast as average, but candidates with college degrees will likely enjoy better job opportunities.

• Hospitality
• Hospitality Management