A tourism management degree can often be used to pursue a career in hospitality. These degrees may be offered two-year colleges and four-year universities, and they are likely to help students find work in planning, management, and marketing. Travel agents, for example, who coordinate travel and lodging for vacations, explorations, and business trips, may be available in a variety of specialties. Director and marketer positions may be available on cruise ships, while project management and catering sales positions may be available in hotels. Another hospitality job is event planning at a convention and tourism bureau, where professionals plan activities and arrange for out-of-town guest accommodations.
A tourism management degree teaches students how to plan leisure and travel activities as well as manage tourist attractions such as hotels, amusement parks, and historical sites. These degrees may also prepare students for careers in tourism planning and marketing. Such facilities can be found in the private, public, and government sectors, and can be found anywhere from tropical islands to winter ski resorts. Commercial recreation and tourism management, park and recreation facility management, and recreation supervision are all topics covered in travel and tourism courses. These degrees may be offered both two-year colleges and four-year universities.
Jobs in hospitality, such as tourism management, can be found in a variety of settings. Travel agents, for example, frequently supervise, manage, and coordinate travel and lodging for personal vacations, group excursions, and corporate business trips. Booking airline tickets, lodging arrangements, and car rentals, as well as creating or booking cruise and tour packages and managing customer budgets, are likely to be among the specific functions. Travel agents may also assist with ticket refunds or exchanges, international travel coordination, and customer concerns and questions.
A tourism management degree can lead to director or senior marketing positions with cruise lines. The director is likely to interact with passengers frequently while also responding to their needs. Organizing shore tours, onboard entertainment, activities, and lecturers are some of the responsibilities. The director may also give passenger presentations, accompany guests on activities, and make special arrangements for activities such as biking, kayaking, and horseback riding.
The senior marketer will most likely be in charge of analyzing and increasing the number of cruise passengers. Driving new business development efforts and identifying new marketing channels, directing the cruise line’s marketing efforts, and optimizing efficient traffic sources are all possible responsibilities. Although marketers may not have direct contact with passengers, they will most likely need to know the demographics of those most likely to go on cruises.
Positions in tourism and hospitality, such as project management and catering sales, may be available with hotels. The project manager will almost certainly be in charge of assisting customers with the creation and delivery of audiovisual presentations. As the event’s technical expert, this position may be in charge of ensuring financial and technical feasibility within reasonable time constraints. Typical responsibilities include coordinating event staffing, assisting hotel sales associates with proposals and recommendations, and identifying client needs to ensure a successful presentation.
To ensure that the catering sales department meets its business objectives, the catering sales manager may perform marketing, operational, and financial functions. This will almost certainly necessitate a thorough understanding of the banquet menu as well as service capabilities for each room and meal proposal. The manager may give potential customers sales presentations, track sales performance results, and develop models to improve conversion rates and forecast revenue.
A tourism management degree could also be useful for event planning jobs, particularly at convention and tourism bureaus. Local activities are often facilitated these positions, which also coordinate with party or wedding planners at local venues. Event planners are likely to use their extensive knowledge of the town or city to find vendors and suppliers for events, comply with any laws or regulations that may affect activities, and coordinate hotel or resort reservations for out-of-town visitors.