Discover the realm of possibilities within the hospitality and tourism industry
Hospitality and tourism management is an exciting and versatile field. Hospitality and tourism professionals aim to create memorable, seamless and enjoyable experiences for guests and travelers while maintaining efficient and profitable business operations.
So, what is a degree in hospitality and tourism management? At Belmont University, the hospitality and tourism management program offers experiential learning opportunities and internships with industry-leading partners in Nashville and the greater United States. Through the hospitality program, students have opportunities to gain knowledge and foster industry connections, all while building the confidence and competency needed to pursue their aspirations and dreams.
Whether you have a specific interest in event planning, sports and entertainment, luxury accommodation or you are just passionate about creating special moments, read on to discover why studying hospitality and tourism management in college can be a rewarding choice.
What is the Hospitality and Tourism Industry?
The hospitality and tourism industry is more than sitting behind a desk at a hotel. Although being a concierge or a front desk staffer is a role that falls under the umbrella of hospitality and tourism management, there are a variety of fulfilling careers available: it’s not just one thing!
Even though you’ve been to a hotel or a concert you are probably still wondering, what is the hospitality and tourism industry? What is included in this industry? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many students at the university level come to school without fully understanding hospitality and tourism and what jobs are available in this field.
Knowing the four major business sectors and how those sectors impact consumers will help you understand the industry and the opportunities that exist within it.
Four main sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry
The hospitality and tourism industry has four main sectors, including the food and beverage industry, the accommodations industry, the tourism industry and the events and attractions industry. Learn more about each sector below.
Food and beverage Industry
The food and beverage industry focuses on preparing, serving and managing food and drinks, ranging from fine dining to fast food and catering and even food trucks. This sector of the hospitality and tourism industry plays a central role in enhancing guest satisfaction, whether as standalone operations or as part of accommodations, events or attractions.
Hospitality and Tourism Careers – Food and Beverage
- Restaurant Manager: Oversee daily operations, manage staff, handle budgets and ensure exceptional service.
- Chef or Culinary Staff: Prepare high-quality meals and develop creative menus to meet customer expectations.
- Catering Coordinator: Plan and execute food services for events like weddings or conferences.
- Beverage Manager: Manage bars, wine programs or coffee shops, ensuring proper inventory, service and compliance with regulations.
People working in the food and beverage industry have pursued double majors or minors in general business, finance, and supply chain management as well.
Accommodations Industry
The accommodations sector of the hospitality and tourism industry provides places for travelers to stay, ranging from luxury resorts to budget motels. It includes both short-term lodging (hotels, resorts, cruise ships) and extended stays (vacation rentals, serviced apartments). Candidates with well-developed soft skills become standouts in this competitive and highly adaptive business sector.
Hospitality and Tourism Careers – Accommodation
- Hotel Manager: Manage all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services, housekeeping, maintenance and financial performance.
- Front Desk Staff: Welcome guests, handle check-ins/check-outs and resolve customer inquiries.
- Concierge: Provide personalized recommendations and assistance to guests, such as arranging transportation or booking reservations.
- Revenue Manager: Optimize room pricing and occupancy based on market demand and trends.
- Housekeeping Manager: Oversee cleaning staff and ensure guest accommodations meet high standards of cleanliness and comfort.
Tourism Industry
The tourism sector of the hospitality and tourism industry focuses on promoting travel and experiences for leisure, adventure or cultural exploration. It includes tours operators, transportation services (airlines, trains, buses), travel agency operations and destination marketing.
Destination marketing organizations inform people about specific destinations and what they can do at the destination to convince them to come, stay and engage in tourism. DMOs also organize celebrations like concerts and firework shows for the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve and other events that will attract tourism.
Hospitality and Tourism Careers – Tourism
- Travel Agent: Help clients plan and book travel itineraries, accommodations and experiences.
- Tour Operator/Guide: Organize and lead group excursions.
- Sustainability Coordinator: Develop eco-friendly travel initiatives.
- Destination Marketing Professional: Promote regions or countries to attract visitors through marketing campaigns and partnerships.
Studying at a college in a city with a thriving tourism market can provide greater exposure to local opportunities and internships as you prepare to enter the workforce.
Events and Attractions Industry
The events and attractions sector of the hospitality and tourism industry includes planning, organizing and managing events as well as operating attractions that draw visitors, such as theme parks, museums or sports venues.
Hospitality and Tourism Careers – Events and Attraction
- Event Planner: Organize and coordinate logistics for events like weddings, corporate meetings or festivals.
- Attraction Manager: Oversee daily operations of venues like theme parks or museums, ensuring visitor satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Marketing Specialist: Promote events or attractions through advertising, social media and partnerships.
- Production Coordinator: Handle the technical and creative aspects of live events, including staging, lighting and performances.
- Ticketing and Guest Services Staff: Assist visitors with reservations, ticketing and navigating the attraction or event.
Hospitality and tourism professionals across these sectors work to create seamless, memorable and enjoyable experiences for customers. Each sector focuses on a particular aspect of service, but they all rely on strong interpersonal skills, creativity and a commitment to guest satisfaction. Together, they drive one of the largest and most dynamic industries in the world.
Why Study Hospitality and Tourism Management at Belmont?
Belmont provides students with the knowledge and experiences needed to understand current industry trends and applications based on hands-on projects. Engaging faculty and a dynamic network of innovative professionals are hallmarks of the Jack C. Massey College of Business, which houses the hospitality and tourism management program.
Belmont’s program recognizes that skills from many other disciplines pair well with the versatile industry of hospitality and tourism management. For instance, Destination Marketing Organizations need event coordinators, public relations professionals, web and graphic designers, financial managers and more. With this in mind, Belmont offers its hospitality and tourism management degree as a Bachelor of Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science.
Students pursuing the B.B.A. also take coursework in accounting, international business, entrepreneurship, management and marketing, among other areas of business, which allows them to have a foundational understanding of all facets of business.
The B.S. has a built-in minor, which could be another area of business or a program outside of the business school, allowing for more flexibility in choosing courses that supplement the Hospitality and Tourism Management major.
Additionally, Nashville is one of the best cities for hospitality and tourism. Nashville’s high demand for professionals in the hospitality and tourism industry helps to ensure students can secure jobs in Nashville and across the country upon graduating.
Create Memorable Moments with Hospitality and Tourism Management
Studying Hospitality and Tourism Management in college can be a rewarding choice for students passionate about creating memorable experiences for others.
Think about the best moments in your life. Cheering in the stands as your favorite pro team wins the championship game, packing up the van for a family trip to the coast, embracing a beloved childhood character in the happiest place on earth – these unforgettable moments and countless others are made possible by through the hospitality and tourism management industry.
If you think hospitality and tourism management could be a good fit for you and now you are wondering what comes next, contact Belmont today!
Learn more about hospitality and tourism management in Belmont’s Jack C. Massey College of Business.