Online Hospitality Management Degree

Follow the tourists to restaurants, casinos and hotels, and you'll invariably find hospitality managers. An online hospitality management degree could cover the diverse aspects of this field, including business administration, economics and accounting, human resources, public safety concerns, and sales and marketing.

Take a look at some specialties within this field:

1. Food service managers: From fast food to fine dining, this specialized profession requires management skill and culinary knowledge.
2. Lodging managers: Customer service is heavily emphasized in this specialization, where you might manage a five-star hotel.
3. Meeting and convention planners: Try planning an all-day party with a thousand guests and you'll understand why this career requires advanced organizational skills.
4. Gaming managers: Casinos blend hotel accommodations with money management as gambling is the preferred pastime.

Skilled management teams can be found from clubs to resorts to corporate meetings.

Hospitality management: education and training

Training for hospitality managers varies based on career goals. While an associate degree or certificate might be sufficient if you're hoping to manage a fast food restaurant or a small motel, you may need a bachelor's degree for higher-level positions, such as convention planning or casino floor management.

Online hospitality management degrees may include wide-ranging subjects like business entrepreneurship, information technology and tourism. Hospitality managers blend old-fashioned customer service with the modern tools of their trade. A lodging manager might use GuestClick software, while a food service manager might work with Intuit QuickBooks.

Career outlook and salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed these mean annual wages for related careers in 2010:

• Gaming managers: $73,940
• Lodging managers: $54,570
• Food service managers: $52,220
• Meeting and convention planners: $48,780

Between 2008 and 2018, the BLS expects food service and lodging managers to see slower job growth than the average for all occupations. In contrast, faster than average job growth is projected for meeting and convention planners and gaming managers.

Economic trends have a strong effect on employment opportunities. With economic challenges, the industry may look to technology and social media to deliver personalized service. Management abilities are likely to remain important; for example, a Northern Ireland government official declared in 2011 that leadership skills are key for the future of the hospitality industry.

Follow the tourists to restaurants, casinos and hotels, and you'll invariably find hospitality managers. An online hospitality management degree could cover the diverse aspects of this field, including business administration, economics and accounting, human resources, public safety concerns, and sales and marketing.

Take a look at some specialties within this field:

1. Food …