Is HND Hospitality Management a good Career Option?

The hospitality industry includes various sectors such as hotel industry, aviation, tourism, restaurant, food services and many more. More and more students are considering this industry as an area of interest. This can be attributed to the industry’s economic progression and the number of jobs available in the sector. According to a report released by the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism industry’s contribution to the world GDP was 10.4%, which amounts to about US$8.8 trillion. Another report released by hcareers.com stated that the first quarter of 2018 saw 16,256,000 employed in the hospitality industry, which about 3% more than the figures in 2017. The rapid growth of the industry and the varied job prospects it offers is a major motivation for students to pursue a degree in hospitality management. This article is focused on helping students understand what an HND Hospitality Management course entails and if it is the right fit for you. Read on to find out.

Hospitality industry trends in 2019

Change gives way to innovation and innovation is a necessary virtue in today’s world. The hospitality trends of 2019 that can shape the future of the industry are as follows:

• Digitalisation

We are already living in a time where most of our everyday activities have become digitalised. Booking flight tickets, rooms, food from restaurants – everything is just a click away. Now, the hospitality industry is on the path to take this further. The service providers in the hospitality industry are now taking new steps to make their services all-mobile friendly. Starting from smart technology in rooms to the facility of checking in and out of your hotel room via a mobile app, this industry is set to welcome many changes in the coming year.  

• Social media

When we are talking about digitalisation, social media cannot be far behind. The influence of social media on our lives, today, cannot be disregarded. The hospitality industry can use social media to support their marketing efforts. This doesn’t just mean promoting their brand or service on social media but also engaging in social listening. Social listening is the technique of monitoring your brand’s social media presence by keeping track of direct mentions of the brand name and customer feedback.

• Wellness Tourism

As a sub-sub-category of the hospitality industry, wellness tourism is gaining pace. More and more people are travelling with the intention of improving or maintaining their health. In fact, according to the Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report, this sector is estimated to grow at the rate of 7.5% ($919 billion) through 2022.

Why should you pursue HND Hospitality Management?

You must have certainly asked yourself at some point in time, “Why choose a career in hospitality management?” Well, the following section will help you understand how pursuing a career in hospitality management can carve the way for a bright future.

• Become a part of a rapidly growing industry

Hospitality is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. This has reflected positively on the job prospects and remuneration the industry offers. With the industry adapting to changing trends, many new positions are created every year.This significantly contributes to the employment rate on a global scale.

• Acquire transferable skills

An HND in hospitality management can help you acquire skills that can be applied at various positions, such as managerial skills, teamwork, people skills, leadership skills and time management. These skills are not restricted to a particular job or level and can help you progress in your career, irrespective of the role you assume.

• Explore your creative side

The hospitality industry is a good fit for those who have a creative streak. Every day will present you with unique challenges and the opportunity to come up with creative solutions. Moreover, it will also put your critical thinking skills in practice, helping you regularly exercise your grey cells.

Career options after HND in hospitality management

• Event Manager

After pursuing a hospitality management course, you can opt to take up the role of an event manager. Professionals are required to plan and organise events such as business conferences and conventions, weddings and trade fairs. Since this role requires you to interact with people and clients on a large scale, communication skills and people skills are vital to this role. You will be handling a series of tasks, starting from booking the venue to arranging the caterer. Hence, you must have good time management and organisational skills. If you are creative and want to transform your ideas into reality, this job role is perfect for you.

• Hotel Manager

Hotel managers are responsible for tasks such as monitoring and supervising employees, planning and administering hotel services and handling promotional and marketing activities for the hotel. Much like an event manager, hotel managers also interact with clients and customers on a day-to-day basis. This makes it paramount for them to have impeccable communication skills, ability to manage and motivate employees, problem-solving skills and organisational skills

• Executive Chef

One of the most exciting job roles in the hospitality industry, an executive chef’s responsibilities are not limited to the kitchen. Professionals who take up this job role need to fulfil responsibilities such as designing the restaurant menu, monitoring food and beverage buys, preparing meals, training subordinates and review the food prepared in the establishment’s kitchen. If you are fond of cooking and want to showcase your talent, this job role can be the way ahead for you.

• Accommodation Manager

A major component of the hospitality industry is the accommodation sector. An accommodation manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of an accommodation establishment and supervising the employees. Since the radar of responsibilities for an accommodation manager is quite wide, they must have good organisational as well as time management skills. Additionally, they should have the ability to address customers’ issues efficiently and quickly.

Some of the other hospitality management jobs that you can opt for are:

• Restaurant Manager
• Marketing Executive
• Catering Manager
• Tour Manager
• Travel Consultant

If you are interested in becoming a part of the constantly growing hospitality industry, then you have come to the right place. The HND in Hospitality Management course offered by St Patrick’s is a two-year vocational course that will help you acquire a deep insight into the hospitality and tourism industry. You will also develop skills that can help you enter this industry with ease. St Patrick’s is located in London, the global tourism capital, and provides students with a learning environment where they can experience real-world situations and use their theoretical as well as practical knowledge. If you think the hospitality industry is the right make for you, sign up for the course now!

This article was written by Meghdeep Patnaik.