Careers: hotel manager, restaurant manager, event planner, chef, and hotel front desk agent. Majors: Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism and Travel Management, Event Management, and Sport and Recreation Management.
College majors for hospitality and tourism
Hospitality Management
Teaches you to manage hotels, restaurants, resorts and other guest services businesses.
Culinary Arts
Teaches professional cooking, baking and kitchen management.
Tourism and Travel Management
Studies the business of travel, destinations and tourism experiences.
Event Management
Teaches you to plan and run meetings, conferences, weddings and festivals.
Sport and Recreation Management
Studies how sports programs, parks and recreation services are run.
Careers in hospitality and tourism
Hotel Manager
Run hotels and resorts, from guest service to profits.
- Typical training: 3–5 years of hotel experience
Restaurant Manager
Run restaurants: guests, staff, food quality, safety and profits.
- Typical training: 2–5 years of restaurant experience
Event Planner
Plan and run conferences, weddings, meetings and celebrations.
- Typical training: 4 years or event experience
Chef
Lead kitchens, create menus and turn ingredients into memorable meals.
- Typical training: 2–5 years of kitchen experience
Hotel Front Desk Agent
Welcome hotel guests, check them in and solve problems during their stay.
- Typical training: 1–2 weeks
Travel Agent
Plan and book trips, cruises and vacations for clients.
- Typical training: 1–3 months
Food Service Supervisor
Lead food service shifts, crews and quality at restaurants and cafeterias.
- Typical training: 6–12 months of experience
Barista
Make coffee drinks and serve customers at cafes and coffee shops.
- Typical training: 1–2 weeks
Server
Take orders, serve food and drinks and make every meal a good experience.
- Typical training: 1–2 weeks
Skills these careers use
- Cooking techniques
- POS systems
- Revenue management
- Budgeting
- Staff management
- Guest service operations
Minors that fit this interest
- Hospitality Management: Adds knowledge of hotel, restaurant and guest service operations.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what hotel managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: revenue management, budgeting, and staff management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Hospitality and Tourism
A self-paced online course on what restaurant managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: labor scheduling, cost control, and inventory management
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Hospitality and Tourism
A self-paced online course on what event planners do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: event logistics, budget management, and contract negotiation
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Hospitality and Tourism
A self-paced online course on what chefs do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: cooking techniques, menu planning, and food cost control
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Hospitality and Tourism
Hospitality and Tourism: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in hospitality and tourism?
Careers connected to hospitality and tourism include hotel manager, restaurant manager, event planner, chef, hotel front desk agent, travel agent, food service supervisor, and barista.
What should I major in if I am interested in hospitality and tourism?
Majors connected to hospitality and tourism include Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism and Travel Management, Event Management, and Sport and Recreation Management. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What hospitality and tourism careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include hotel manager, restaurant manager, chef, hotel front desk agent, travel agent, and food service supervisor. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which hospitality and tourism careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include event planner and recreation manager. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in hospitality and tourism?
Skills that come up often in these careers include cooking techniques, POS systems, revenue management, budgeting, staff management, and guest service operations, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in hospitality and tourism?
Minors connected to hospitality and tourism include Hospitality Management.
How do I start a career in hospitality and tourism?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore hospitality and tourism careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in hospitality and tourism involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to hospitality and tourism?
Yes. Related online trainings include Hotel Manager Training, Restaurant Manager Training, Event Planner Training, and Chef Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to hospitality and tourism?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.