Hotel manager
Hotel managers run hotels, resorts and other accommodation, making sure guests are satisfied, staff are well led and the business makes a profit.
What can you do with a hospitality and tourism degree?
Also called: Hospitality management · Tourism management · Hotel management · Travel and tourism · International hospitality management
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A hospitality and tourism degree teaches how to run hotels, restaurants, travel services, attractions and events as businesses. It combines management, marketing and finance with practical training, often including a long placement in industry. Graduates often become hotel managers, event managers, marketing managers or project managers, and the skills are used in travel and service industries worldwide.
Careers with a hospitality and tourism degree
Hospitality and tourism graduates work for hotels, resorts, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, travel companies, tourist boards and event venues. Many start on management training programmes and move up to hotel manager or event manager. The marketing, sales and planning skills from the degree also lead to marketing manager and project manager roles, both inside and outside tourism. Less obvious paths include revenue management, corporate travel and tourism development work for governments.
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Event manager
Event managers plan and run events such as conferences, exhibitions, festivals, weddings, product launches and sports events.
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Marketing manager
Marketing managers plan and lead the work that makes people aware of a product, service or organisation and persuades them to choose it.
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Project manager
Project managers plan, organise and lead projects so they are finished on time, within budget and to the agreed standard.
Other roles graduates go into: Revenue manager · Restaurant manager · Travel consultant · Tourism development officer · Guest relations manager · Cruise director
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Hotel and hospitality operations
- Tourism and destination management
- Event management
- Marketing and customer experience
- Finance, accounting and revenue management
- Human resources and leadership
- Sustainable and responsible tourism
- Industry placement or internship
Skills you gain
- Delivering excellent customer service
- Leading teams and planning staff schedules
- Planning and running events and daily operations
- Understanding budgets, pricing and revenue
- Working with people from different cultures and languages
- Staying calm and solving problems under pressure
How the degree differs around the world
Hospitality and tourism degrees are offered by universities and by specialist hotel schools, especially in Switzerland and other parts of Europe and Asia. In the UK a bachelor's usually takes three years, or four with a placement year. In the United States it is usually a four-year degree, and in Australia a three-year degree is common. Many programmes include a long internship in industry, and many countries also offer shorter vocational diplomas. Entry requirements are usually moderate, and language skills are a strong advantage. Some programmes are certified by international tourism or education bodies.
How do hospitality and tourism graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Services”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 100 (2023) | 93.2% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Romania | 96 (2023) | 85.9% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Sweden | 92 (2023) | 87.7% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Estonia | 90 (2023) | 88.7% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Slovenia | 87 (2020) | 89.8% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Finland | 87 (2022) | 88.9% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Denmark | 87 (2023) | 86.3% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Canada | 86 (2020) | 77.2% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Australia | 85 (2020) | 89.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Luxembourg | 85 (2023) | 83.8% (2024) | 85.7% |
| United Kingdom | 84 (2020) | 88.1% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Mexico | 84 (2023) | 79.1% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Latvia | 83 (2023) | 83.8% (2024) | 87.7% |
| South Korea | 82 (2023) | — | — |
| United States | 79 (2023) | 84.9% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Switzerland | 78 (2023) | 87.6% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Costa Rica | 77 (2023) | 80.5% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Portugal | 75 (2020) | 90.8% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Austria | 71 (2023) | 85.3% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Chile | 63 (2023) | 83.6% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Netherlands | — | 92.0% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Iceland | — | 91.2% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Poland | — | 90.2% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Belgium | — | 88.3% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Slovakia | — | 88.3% (2024) | 90.5% |
| France | — | 88.0% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Czechia | — | 87.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Germany | — | 87.2% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Lithuania | — | 86.6% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Croatia | — | 85.6% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Ireland | — | 85.3% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Spain | — | 81.3% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Peru | — | 79.6% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Italy | — | 79.4% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Greece | — | 72.7% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Türkiye | — | 71.0% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Tourism, transport and travel” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £24,200 | £19,400 | £28,900 | 86.3% |
| After 3 years | £27,100 | £22,300 | £32,600 | 86.6% |
| After 5 years | £29,600 | £23,400 | £37,300 | 84.7% |
| After 10 years | £33,700 | £23,800 | £45,800 | 85.4% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment.
Is a hospitality and tourism degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You enjoy meeting people and making sure they have a good experience.
- You want a career that could take you to other countries.
- You like practical, fast-moving work that changes from day to day.
Think twice if
- You want regular office hours, as the industry often works evenings, weekends and public holidays.
- You expect to start in a senior role, as many graduates begin in operational jobs.
- You want a very stable industry, as tourism is hit hard by economic downturns, pandemics and other crises.
Further study
Many graduates go straight into work, often through management training programmes run by hotel groups and travel companies. A master's degree in hospitality, tourism, events or international business can help with senior or specialist roles, and it is a common route for graduates of other subjects. Short courses in revenue management, languages or digital marketing are also useful, and some graduates later take an MBA.
Questions about studying hospitality and tourism
What jobs can you get with a hospitality and tourism degree?
Common jobs include hotel manager, event manager, restaurant manager, travel consultant, revenue manager and tourism development officer. Graduates also work in marketing, sales, customer experience and project management, both in tourism and in other industries such as retail and airlines. Many start in operational roles and move into management.
Do you need a degree to work in hospitality?
No. Many people start in hotels, restaurants or travel companies without a degree and learn on the job. A degree can help you move into management faster, and it is often expected for graduate training programmes and head office roles. Vocational diplomas and apprenticeships are common alternatives in many countries.
Is hospitality management a good career?
It can be rewarding if you enjoy working with people and like variety, and it offers chances to work abroad. The hours can be long and include weekends and holidays, starting pay in operational roles is often modest, and demand falls during economic crises. People who perform well can move into management quickly.
Is it better to study hospitality at a university or a hotel school?
Both can lead to good jobs. Specialist hotel schools usually focus on practical training and long internships and have strong links with international hotel groups. Universities often offer a broader business education and more research-based teaching. Compare the placements, the recognition of the degree and the costs before you choose.
Related subjects
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Business management
A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.
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Marketing
A marketing degree teaches how organisations understand customers, develop products and brands, and promote them through advertising, digital channels, sales and public relations.
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Modern languages
A modern languages degree teaches you to speak, write and understand one or more foreign languages to a high level, together with the culture, history and literature of the places where they are spoken.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH17-01-06 — Tourism, transport and travel
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 1013, 1015
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a hospitality and tourism degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/hospitality-and-tourism/ (accessed September 26, 2026)