Be Our Guest: Explore MBA in Hospitality Degree Programs

Seeking Your MBA in Hospitality and Tourism

Here's something that might surprise you: tourism is one of the biggest business sectors in the world. Data from the World Travel and Tourism Council shows just how far the hospitality industry reaches: travel and tourism contributed $6.3 trillion dollars to the global economy in 2011 and provided more than 250 million jobs worldwide. If you're interested in carving out a career in this massive sector, an MBA in hospitality management could help you gain the skills needed to make an impact in this important industry.

MBA in Hospitality: Courses and More

No matter whether you're seeking an MBA in hotel management or another tourism-related degree, courses will likely help you build upon strengths and interests, broaden your knowledge of the industry and sharpen your management strategies. Specific classes could cover topics including safety and security, strategic management, marketing and tourism economics. Hospitality MBA programs are generally offered in a wide range of settings, including traditional on-campus programs and flexible, online programs that allow students to learn at their own pace. Online programs are often preferred by students managing both college and a career, as these tend to offer the most accommodating courses and schedules.

After the MBA: Travel and Tourism Career Outlook

Graduates of a hospitality MBA program will likely end up in careers directly related to restaurant or hotel management. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) reports that job candidates with advanced hospitality-related degrees will likely find the most opportunities. Bls.gov numbers from May 2010 show that the mean annual income of lodging managers were $54,570. When coupled with relevant industry experience, a travel and tourism MBA becomes even more valuable. General managers - whose duties include formulating policies, managing daily operations and planning the use of materials and human resources, according to the bls.gov - brought in mean annual wages of $113,100.

Additional Information for Hospitality and Tourism MBA Professionals
The Office of Travel & Tourism Industries
Bureau of Labor Statistics Information on the Leisure and Hospitality Industry
Bureau of Labor Statistics Information of Lodging Managers