Associate degree programs in hospitality management

People will always need lodging as they travel, places to go for special occasions, and a good meal. These special places people love to visit will always need management to help them run smoothly and efficiently.

If you place hospitality high on your list of priorities, or if you have a good sense of how to run a business that sees hundreds of customers each day, perhaps a career in hotel and restaurant management is right for you. If you're tired of waiting tables or bartending, a better career that builds on the work experience you already have could be at your fingertips with an associate degree in hospitality management.

Studying for an associate degree in hospitality management

You can start working right now toward an online associate degree in hospitality management. With an associate degree in hospitality management, you may be able to get hired as a salaried manager with benefits, while you work toward more advanced degrees and better positions.

An associate degree in hospitality management can propel you toward a future in a number of hospitality facilities including:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Casinos
• Convention centers
• Beverage industries
• Tourism
• Catering

While studying hotel and restaurant management, you may learn about areas like:

• Employee management: Handling employee operations from paperwork to expectations and training
• Nutrition and menu planning: Balancing what customers want with budgetary and nutritional concerns
• Marketing and advertising: Expanding the business by reaching out to potential customers
• Beverage operations and law: Conducting business according to government regulations
• Purchasing stock: Tracking inventory, costs and shelf life, measuring supply and demand
• Storage regulations: Making sure everything is up to code for the safety of employees and customers

Whatever course you take, you can be confident that earning an online associate degree in hospitality management can help put you on the path toward serious benefits and improved earning power.

Benefits of an associate degree in hotel and restaurant management

Earning an associate degree can set you above the rest of your competition, giving you the boost you need to start the career that leads to the future you deserve. Depending on your interests and your financial goals, you can determine your next step. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in different areas of hospitality earn a spectrum of salaries.

Lodging managers ensure comfort and safety by managing hotels, motels and other forms of lodging. They earned a medial annual salary of $46,300 in 2009.

Food service managers coordinate the daily operations of eating establishments. They earned a median annual salary of $47,210 in 2009.

Gaming service managers ensure adherence to governmental gaming laws while planning and directing gaming and related operations in a casino. They earned a median annual salary of $67,380 in 2009.

Meeting and Convention planners coordinate and direct all facets of meeting and conventions down to the smallest detail. They earned a median annual salary of $44,780 in 2009.

Two years in school can begin to change the course of the rest of your life and WorldWideLearn.com can help with researching your options. Visit our Guide to Majors to learn how an associate degree in hospitality management can give you the tools you need to manage a variety of businesses successfully and effectively.

• Degrees by Level