A tourism management degree can lead to careers in planning, management, and marketing in the hospitality industry. Jobs can include travel agents, cruise line directors and marketers, project managers and catering sales managers at hotels, and event planners at convention and tourism agencies. Courses cover topics such as tourism management, facility planning, and marketing.
Often, a career in hospitality can be followed with a tourism management degree. Two-year colleges and four-year universities may offer these degrees, which are likely to help students find work in planning, management, and marketing. Tourism jobs can be available in a variety of specialties, such as travel agents who can coordinate travel and accommodation for vacations, explorations and business trips. Cruise lines can offer opportunities for directors and marketing professionals, while hotels can fill these roles in project management and catering sales. Event planning at a convention and tourism agency is another hospitality job where professionals can plan activities and arrange out-of-town accommodations.
A tourism management degree generally teaches students to coordinate leisure or travel activities and manage tourist attractions such as hotels, amusement parks and historic sites. These degrees can also prepare students for positions in tourism facility planning and marketing. These facilities are likely to be found in the private, public and government sectors, varying considerably between tropical islands and winter ski resorts. Travel and tourism courses can include topics such as commercial recreation and tourism management, park and recreation facility management, and recreation supervision. Two-year colleges and four-year universities can offer these degrees.
Hospitality jobs, like those in tourism management, can be found in many different capacities. One example is evident in travel agents, who often oversee, manage and coordinate travel and accommodation for personal vacations, group explorations and corporate business travel. Specific roles are likely to include booking airline tickets, arranging accommodation and car rentals, creating or booking travel packages for cruises and tours, and managing client budgets. Travel agents can also work on ticket refunds or exchanges, coordinate international travel, and respond to customer questions or concerns.
With cruise lines, a tourism management degree can lead to director or senior marketing positions. The director is likely to have a high level of interaction with passengers as well as being responsive to guest needs. Duties can include organizing shore excursions, in-flight entertainment, activities and speakers. The director can also give introductions to passengers, escort guests to activities and make arrangements for special activities such as biking, kayaking or horseback riding.
The senior marketer is likely responsible for analyzing and growing cruise ship buyers. Responsibilities may include driving new business development efforts and identifying new marketing channels, directing cruise line marketing efforts and optimizing efficient traffic sources. While marketers may not have direct contact with guests, they likely need to understand the demographics of the people most likely to take cruises.
Positions in tourism and hospitality may also be available at hotels in roles such as project management and catering sales. It is likely that the project manager will be responsible for assisting clients in creating and delivering audiovisual presentations. Serving as the technical expert on each event, this position may be responsible for ensuring financial and technical viability within appropriate timeframes. Specific duties may include coordinating staff for events, assisting hotel salespeople with proposals and recommendations, and identifying client needs for a successful presentation.
The catering sales manager can perform marketing, operational and financial functions to ensure the department meets its business objectives. It is likely to require an in-depth knowledge of the banquet menu and an understanding of the service features of each room and meal proposition. The manager can make sales presentations to prospects, track results and model sales performance to improve conversion rates and forecast revenue.
A tourism management degree can also be useful for careers in event planning, especially in convention and tourism agencies. These positions often facilitate area activities and coordinate with party or wedding planners at local venues. Event planners are likely to use their extensive knowledge of the city to engage vendors and vendors for events, respect laws or regulations that may influence activities, and coordinate hotel or resort reservations for out-of-town visitors.
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