PATRICK GODDET| MBA ESG
There always seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to choosing between a hotel management and a hospitality management degree. This post aims to provide a clear distinction between the two and help choose what’s best for you.
India has always been a land which treats its guests as its own citizens. As such, hospitality is ingrained in its culture. It is, therefore, a key industry in the subcontinent. There are a number of hospitality management courses and degrees available in India to fill this need. However, these hospitality management courses are often confused with hotel management courses. Many usually consider both one and the same. But are they? Can they be used interchangeably? Turns out it isn’t so. Though both hotel management and hospitality management deal with the service sector, they are quite different from each other.
Here are 5 key differences between hotel management and hospitality management.
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Area of work
As the name suggests, hotel management deals with all aspects of managing a hotel or more broadly, any lodging establishment such as a B&B, resort, etc. India, being an important tourism hub, is home to a large number of hotels and hotel chains. Hotel management involves managing their day-to-day operations.
Hospitality management, on the other hand, is a broader term used to describe any sector that deals with people management. It could be casinos, nightclubs, conferences, events, sales, business development, and even hotels.
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Employment sectors
Hotel management involves working exclusively in the hotel industry or the travel and tourism industry. Hence, you may find ample opportunities with hotel chains, resorts, and restaurants.
With hospitality management, the opportunities for employment are far greater and varied. Since you will not be restricted to working in the hotel industry alone, you can utilize your skills in departments such as operations, marketing, HR, finance, and in various administrative positions.
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Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities, with hotel management, is ensuring guests enjoy a pleasant stay at their establishment. It involves taking care of them from the moment they check-in to the moment they check-out. Every single activity of the guest has to be outstanding to ensure their visit is worth their money. Departments such as the front desk, travel desk, housekeeping, concierge, room service, guest service, etc. are all the responsibilities of a hotel manager.
Similar to hotel management, hospitality management also includes taking care of guests, albeit in a different setting. For example, hospitality managers in large organizations are responsible for meeting and greeting foreign delegates and ensuring they have everything they need for a successful visit.
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Driving factors
Hotel management is largely an operations-oriented subject. Hotel managers mostly ensure each department in the hotel runs like a well-oiled machine. A hotel management degree, thus, provides intense training on how to manage these departments.
Hospitality management is about people management. The aim is to make sure guests are comfortable and satisfied with their experience at the event, venue, hotel, etc. A good hospitality manager is one who takes customer/client experiences to the next level.
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Industry dependence
It’s only when there’s tourism that hotels have a reason to function, isn’t it? India, being one of the premier tourist destinations in the world, enjoys a healthy influx of tourists every year. This allows the hotel industry to thrive and flourish. The hotel industry is, therefore, heavily dependent on the tourism industry.
Due to the very fact that hospitality management is all about people, it is independent of any particular industry. Many IT companies, MNCs, and organizations from a wide variety of industries employ hospitality management professionals to coordinate events, meetings, and guest relations.
As you can see, hotel management is restricted to managing the operations of a lodging or food and beverage establishment whereas hospitality management includes and extends above and beyond these sectors. This makes hospitality a highly sought-after degree as it offers employment opportunities in a wide array of industries.
MBA ESG offers an excellent Hospitality Management program that covers the essentials of hospitality and related sectors ensuring students are well-equipped to confidently face the challenges of the hospitality industry.
