The Requirements in the Hospitality Industry
by Luanne Kelchner, studioD
The hospitality industry offers a broad number of occupations at all levels, which require different levels of education and training. Some workers deal directly with the public, providing services to customers, while others work in management. Hospitality workers must have skills in customer service and communication skills to work with the public.
Food Service Management
Restaurant managers oversee the day-to-day operations in a restaurant or fast-food establishment. Managers direct, hire, train and discipline workers and ensure customers are satisfied with the service and food. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers prefer managers with at least some college education. Food service management and hospitality education programs provide associates and bachelor’s degrees to managers. The programs may require an internship to provide experience in the field. In addition, students complete coursework in food planning, sanitation, accounting, management and nutrition. Some restaurants offer employees training in management through an on-the-job program that also includes coursework in the classroom. The programs include training to run all areas of the restaurant, along with specific training for the company.
Hotel and Accommodation Management
Hotel managers oversee all the operations in the hotel to provide a quality experience to guests. Managers direct the staff in all areas of the hotel, such as housekeeping, room service, maintenance, the front desk, marketing and security. Larger hotels may hire hotel managers to oversee different areas of the operation, such as front desk, office and financial managers. According to the statistics bureau, hotel chains prefer managers with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in hotel or hospitality management. Hotel management degree programs include coursework in marketing, accounting, management, food service, maintenance and housekeeping. Smaller hotels may hire managers with an associate’s degree.
Food Service Staff
Restaurant staff includes cooks, servers, bartenders, hosts and hostesses. Head cooks and chefs oversee the kitchen staff, prepare foods, develop menus and buy food supplies. Sous chefs work under the head cook or chef preparing meals and may direct other kitchen workers. Servers take customer orders and bring the prepared meal and beverages to the table. Employers usually prefer servers with a high school education and train the workers on the job. According to the statistics bureau, some restaurants train workers with classroom instruction in proper serving techniques, sanitation procedures and the policies of the establishment. Cooks and chefs may receive training in a formal culinary arts program in a community college or culinary arts college. Culinary arts programs provide training in menu planning, nutrition, cooking, sanitation and purchasing. Some chefs and cooks learn through experience in a restaurant kitchen. Apprenticeship programs are also available for budding chefs and cooks and include on-the-job training and classroom courses.
Housekeeping Staff
Hotels, motels and resorts hire housekeeping staff to keep guest accommodations clean. Hotel housekeeping staff replenishes linens and room items, make beds, clean bathrooms, vacuum and sanitize the room. Training for housekeeping staff occurs on the job in most cases, according to the statistics bureau.
Travel Agent
Travel agents help customers plan trips, book lodging, transportation and entertainment. Agents offer advice on travel plans, destinations and entertainment activities before a trip and interview customers to learn the budget and interests of the travelers. Agents work with resorts, hotels, tours or cruise lines to offer special promotions to customers and evaluate the quality of hotels, restaurants and resorts to gather information for their customers. Entry-level travel agent positions may only require a high school education, but employers may prefer candidates with some training in the travel industry. Travel agent courses provide training in travel regulations and systems.
by Luanne Kelchner, studioD
The hospitality industry offers a broad number of occupations at all levels, which require different levels of education and training. Some workers deal directly with the public, providing services to customers, while others work in management. Hospitality workers must have skills in customer service and communication skills to work with the public.
Food Service Management
Restaurant managers oversee the day-to-day operations in a restaurant or fast-food establishment. Managers direct, hire, train and discipline workers and ensure customers are satisfied with the service and food. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers prefer managers with at least some college education. Food service management and hospitality education programs provide associates and bachelor’s degrees to managers. The programs may require an internship to provide experience in the field. In addition, students complete coursework in food planning, sanitation, accounting, management and nutrition. Some restaurants offer employees training in management through an on-the-job program that also includes coursework in the classroom. The programs include training to run all areas of the restaurant, along with specific training for the company.
Hotel and Accommodation Management
Hotel managers oversee all the operations in the hotel to provide a quality experience to guests. Managers direct the staff in all areas of the hotel, such as housekeeping, room service, maintenance, the front desk, marketing and security. Larger hotels may hire hotel managers to oversee different areas of the operation, such as front desk, office and financial managers. According to the statistics bureau, hotel chains prefer managers with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in hotel or hospitality management. Hotel management degree programs include coursework in marketing, accounting, management, food service, maintenance and housekeeping. Smaller hotels may hire managers with an associate’s degree.
Food Service Staff
Restaurant staff includes cooks, servers, bartenders, hosts and hostesses. Head cooks and chefs oversee the kitchen staff, prepare foods, develop menus and buy food supplies. Sous chefs work under the head cook or chef preparing meals and may direct other kitchen workers. Servers take customer orders and bring the prepared meal and beverages to the table. Employers usually prefer servers with a high school education and train the workers on the job. According to the statistics bureau, some restaurants train workers with classroom instruction in proper serving techniques, sanitation procedures and the policies of the establishment. Cooks and chefs may receive training in a formal culinary arts program in a community college or culinary arts college. Culinary arts programs provide training in menu planning, nutrition, cooking, sanitation and purchasing. Some chefs and cooks learn through experience in a restaurant kitchen. Apprenticeship programs are also available for budding chefs and cooks and include on-the-job training and classroom courses.
Housekeeping Staff
Hotels, motels and resorts hire housekeeping staff to keep guest accommodations clean. Hotel housekeeping staff replenishes linens and room items, make beds, clean bathrooms, vacuum and sanitize the room. Training for housekeeping staff occurs on the job in most cases, according to the statistics bureau.
Travel Agent
Travel agents help customers plan trips, book lodging, transportation and entertainment. Agents offer advice on travel plans, destinations and entertainment activities before a trip and interview customers to learn the budget and interests of the travelers. Agents work with resorts, hotels, tours or cruise lines to offer special promotions to customers and evaluate the quality of hotels, restaurants and resorts to gather information for their customers. Entry-level travel agent positions may only require a high school education, but employers may prefer candidates with some training in the travel industry. Travel agent courses provide training in travel regulations and systems.