On Line Graduate Degree Programs
Hospitality Degree Programs Preferred Over General Business for Hotel and Restaurant Management
The events of 9/11 put a damper on the travel industry and the number of businesses that took an unfortunate hit caused several to lose their longstanding jobs as a result. Many once employed in the industry have since moved on to other fields, creating a vacuum for qualified travel and tourism professionals now that per 9/11 industry profits have been eclipsed. Every type of business remotely related to the industry has felt the effects of the personnel shortages, from restaurants and hotels to cruise ships and airfare discounters.
For those who are interested in taking advantage of the ample opportunities, choosing an educational path may seem like an easy task. After all, travel industry businesses are exactly that: businesses, and many make the association between a business education and success in any field where products and services are bought and sold.
In truth, hotels, restaurants and travel and tourism related companies face challenges unique to the industry that a general business degree may not sufficiently prepare graduates for. For starters, a typical business management degree program is heavy on analytical processes and light on personnel management. While that may be suitable for selling sprockets, it’s less than ideal when customer interaction is the underlying focus of the company.
Restaurants are a perfect example. While in theory, the economics of buying low and selling high are more crucial to a small eatery than almost any other type of business, there’s more to running a successful business than keeping an eye on the bottom line. Restaurants do sell food, but they market ambiance, and the meal is only as memorable as the service which imparts it. Hotels face the same challenges, as a properly motivated and managed staff can make a mediocre property lucrative while an unfriendly staff can could spoil a weekend at the Carillon.
Aside from extensive curriculum on people management skills, however, there are other areas where a hospitality degree program can provide more industry relevancy than a general business program. Most travel and tourism businesses are heavily involved in reselling, split point income (from deposit receivables) and property management. From an accounting standpoint alone, the differences between hospitality and traditional model businesses are abundant.
What should I do after I graduate?
So right now I am going to Northwest Technical Institute in Arkansas and doing their 1 year Computer Networking/Technician program. Before going here I went to Northwest Arkansas Community College for 3 semesters and did mostly core classes. So far I have a job lined up for after I graduate from NTI so theres no worries there but I just want your opinion on a couple things I am thinking about doing.
I know that I want to get CompTIA's A+ certification, and A+ Networking certification, and I also know that I still want to get my Associates degree from NWACC. So my question is what should I do first? Should I go tried to get certified or should I continue my eduction and get a degree first?
Get the education! If you can go to school part time while you work, go for it.
The certifications will get easier as you gain experience, but it won't get easier to go back to school.
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