10 Hospitality Careers You Can Pursue (Plus Benefits)- AppIy N0W

Hospitality professionals use their customer service skills to interact with different people throughout their workday. If you plan to pursue a job in the hospitality industry, you can find positions in various capacities, such as those in tourism or catering. Knowing the types of hospitality careers you can pursue can help you make a strategic career decision for your future.

In this article, we discuss the benefits of seeking a job in this industry and list 10 hospitality careers you can pursue, along with their average salaries and primary duties.

What are the benefits of pursuing a hospitality career?

Here are some advantages of pursuing a hospitality career in the workforce:

• Employment growth: Hospitality careers often have a positive job outlook, giving you a greater chance of finding employment. For example, by 2030, lodging managers can expect an employment growth of 9% and waiters and waitresses can expect an employment growth of 20%.

• Meeting new people: A hospitality job allows you to meet various people with different backgrounds and personalities. For example, if you work at a hotel’s front desk, you can meet guests from other parts of the world.

• Minimal education requirement: While a formal degree can help you advance in this field, many entry-level hospitality careers require at least a high school diploma or GED.

10 hospitality careers

A career in hospitality can range from entry-level to executive management. Here are 10 hospitality careers you can pursue in the workforce. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click the links.

1. Tour guide

Primary duties: Tour guides educate visitors about a particular locale. They greet visitors, plan and lead tours, prepare presentations and answer questions about area attractions and restaurants. A tour guide also handles guest safety and provides sightseeing advice.

2. Front desk agent

Primary duties: A front desk agent helps guests during their stay in a lodging facility, such as a hotel, motel or resort. They greet guests, assist with check-in and checkout, respond to guest questions, resolve complaints, provide information on local attractions and make reservations.

3. Concierge

Primary duties: Concierges work in hotels and assist guests with various requests, such as providing tickets to local attractions, theaters and events, offering directions and making reservations. They use their familiarity with the hotel’s location to answer guest questions. A concierge also provides recommendations for local services and may deliver guest packages.

4. Wedding planner

Primary duties: A wedding planner oversees all the details in creating a unique experience for a couple on their wedding day. They offer advice and guidance to couples and provide organization and resources, such as access to entertainers, caterers and wedding venues. Some wedding planners work as day-of coordinators, managing all the logistics of the wedding day itself. Wedding planners may also review client budgets and provide viable options, coordinate with vendors, organize the wedding day and oversee setups.

5. Restaurant manager

Primary duties: A restaurant manager ensures their establishment runs smoothly and efficiently while maintaining profitability. They oversee a kitchen and its staff, maintain compliance with health and safety regulations and create a warm and welcoming environment for all guests. They also hire and train kitchen staff, manage the restaurant’s budget, maintain cleanliness and resolve customer complaints.

6. Event manager

Primary duties: Event managers often work at large hotels or catering companies where they plan and oversee events, such as corporate meetings, conferences or weddings. Event planners work with clients to determine their needs and work within their established budget. They also oversee lighting, floral deliveries and decor for an event, interact with customers, provide decor and menu recommendations and supervise an event’s progress.

7. Sales and marketing manager

Primary duties: Sales and marketing managers develop sales plans, create pricing strategies and help their company’s sales and marketing efforts. They attract and maintain clients, create and present designs, meet with potential clients, host marketing events and complete paperwork for new clients.

8. Executive chef

Primary duties: Executive chefs may work in various kitchens, such as in a restaurant, hotel or cruise ship. They create unique menus and may develop a signature dish for their establishment. Executive chefs also supervise and train kitchen staff, manage inventory, and monitor food preparation and the overall quality of different dishes.

9. Travel agent

Primary duties: Travel agents plan trips for individuals, groups and corporations. They book flights, cruises, rental cars and hotels and provide trip recommendations based on personal preferences and budgets. Travel agents also offer individual services, such as booking a flight or creating an itinerary for an entire trip. In addition, they stay up to date on news, travel advisories and required travel documents for different locations worldwide.

10. Sommelier

Primary duties: Sommeliers are hospitality professionals who specialize in wine. They typically work in fine restaurants where they provide recommendations to patrons based on taste preferences and budgets. Sommeliers also oversee deliveries, create wine lists, train waitstaff, host wine tastings, suggest new wine inventories to restaurant owners and maintain relationships with wine distributors.

Hospitality Careers