The hospitality industry is vast with various sectors such as tourism and the hotel industry coming together to form it. The revenue generated in this industry significantly contributes to the global economy. In fact, a report published by the World Travel and Tourism Council in 2018 stated that the travel and tourism industry amounted to 10.4% of the global GDP. This article is aimed at helping you understand whether pursuing a hospitality management diploma is the right career choice for you. Read on to learn more.
Hospitality Diploma Course Overview
A hospitality management diploma covers the following modules:
- Overview of Hospitality and Tourism: In this section, students will learn about the basic principles of the hospitality and tourism industry. Furthermore, they will gain insights about the nature of the industry and how it varies in the local and global setting. The module also ventures into details about how the environment and economies are influenced by this industry.
- Food and Beverage: this module focuses on helping students understand food and beverage operations and its other components, such as – customer needs and how to handle them, dealing with international clientele, in-depth knowledge about varied range of restaurants and techniques to design plans for different types of establishments.
- Front Office: students will acquire interpersonal skills, knowledge about reception processes, people skills and key concepts of customer service.
- Customer Services: customers play an important role in the success of any business in the hospitality sector. In this module students learn the importance of effective communication, how to maintain healthy customer relationships and deal with customer grievances.
- Health, Safety and Food Sanitation: hygiene is essential if you want a hospitality business to do well. Hence, a diploma in hospitality will walk students through the essentials of food hygiene, sanitation and safety. In this module, students will learn about the current practices that are in line with the rules and regulations of food safety and sanitation.
- Organizational Behaviour: an important aspect in any profession, the organizational behaviour module is focused at helping students acquire skills such as efficient decision-making, people skills, ability to motivate themselves and eventually move on to handling situations where managing a group is involved.
What do hospitality graduates do?
Students have a range of hospitality management careers to choose from such as:
Food Service Manager: the job role of a food service officer requires them to:
- Train subordinates;
- Manage the food inventory, taking care of food and supplies to be ordered;
- Supervise processes such as food preparation, presentation of cuisines and the portions served;
- Keep a close track of the supplies and equipment being used;
- Allot work shifts and duties to subordinates;
- Handle issues about food quality and services;
- Plan the budget and financial records;
- Set goals for subordinates in terms of performance and customer service.
Guest Service Representative: as a guest service representative, you can find a job in hotels or spas. Your responsibilities would include:
- Helping guests with information or services to make the experience comfortable and convenient;
- Accommodating the requests of the guests at the establishment;
- Ensuring that customers are satisfied with the solutions and services you offer.
Travel Guide: when tourists visit a new place, they turn to tour/travel guides to show them around unfamiliar places. Their responsibilities include:
- Escorting tourists on sightseeing tours and other places of interest;
- Helping tourists get more information about a place of interest, in the event of them asking questions about it;
- Abiding by the tour guidelines and safety regulations;
- Helping tourist groups with maps and travel routes;
Reservations Agent: reservation agents play a vital role in the hospitality industry as they handle tasks like:
- Planning the trip for customers according to their demands;
- Booking their stay, travel and other tours that they might opt for on the trip;
- Making suggestions about the travel;
- Preparing the itinerary for customers;
- Responding to any questions that the customers may have about their upcoming bookings.
Restaurant Assistant Manager: as a restaurant assistant manager, you will be required to:
- Hire, train and supervise the restaurant staff;
- Manage budgets and maintain financial records;
- Plan the menu;
- Handle the promotion and advertising of the business;
- Ensure that the establishment abide by the regulations set for food quality, hygiene and sanitation;
- Manage the rota for the restaurant staff;
- Handle operations on the administration front;
- Maintaining effective communication with the staff, suppliers and customers.
How much does a hospitality graduate earn?
- Food Service Manager: $46,116 CAD per annum
- Guest Service Representative: $31,453 CAD per annum
- Travel Guide: $38,000 CAD per annum
- Reservations Agent: $36,263 CAD per annum
- Restaurant Assistant Manager: $37,164 CAD per annum
The above mentioned salaries are the average salaries advertised on payscale.com. This may vary depending on the experience you have and the establishment you work for.
How much does a hospitality diploma cost?
A hospitality diploma in Canada costs about $12,495 CAD, however, this may vary depending on whether you opt for a scholarship or not and the university you are pursuing the course with.
Benefits of working in the hospitality industry
Hospitality management is an interesting road to tread and it can work to your benefit, especially if you have a keen interest in the industry.
- Work in a global setting: the hospitality industry has spread its influence across the globe, giving employees the opportunity of global exposure. It gives you a chance to interact with people from different walks of life and cultures, which further helps in building a better perspective.
- People skills: A great way of improving people skills is by being around them. The hospitality industry presents you with the opportunity to interact with people regularly, helping you build confidence and better communication skills.
- High Employability: since the hospitality industry has seen a rapid growth, the demand for hospitality professionals has also gone up. A diploma in hospitality equips you with skills that can help you grow in the industry and gives a boost to your employability.
- Networking opportunities: the hospitality industry allows you to interact with people from all walks of life, hence honing your networking skills. In order to climb the ladder of success, having strong networking skills is essential.
If a career in hospitality piques your interest, look no further. Toronto School of Management offers hospitality courses such as Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management Co-op and Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
TSOM is located at a convenient downtown location in Toronto and offers an expert faculty and courses that combine real work scenarios with theoretical knowledge. So don’t waste any time and sign up for the course of your choice now!
