Difference between Hospitality Management and Hotel Management

There are some differences between the two and understanding those will help particularly if you are looking for a career in hospitality management. Both of these industries are part of the larger tourism and travel industry which is one of the greatest contributors of the global GDP, about 10.3 per cent before the COVID-19 pandemic which restricted travel for a long time.

Looking for a hospitality management diploma or want to study hospitality management?

Read this article to understand what hotel and hospitality management is, and what your career prospects will be after choosing to study either of them. At the end of this blog, you will have a better idea about the courses you should pick to reach your goals.

What is hospitality management?

Hospitality management is a very broad field which involves the overseeing of the day-to-day operations within the hospitality industry. These operations may vary in nature from the operational, commercial or administrative industry. While hotel management specifically deals with all operations within the hotel, hospitality is a more inclusive and broader term.

Hospitality and tourism management are closely aligned and involve all the sectors that require service such as food and beverage, accommodation and event management. The departments that fall under the responsibility of a hospitality manager may vary from housekeeping, concierge, in-room dining, spa or front desk.

What is hotel management?

Hotel management involves the management of every aspect that is associated with the functions of a hotel. Hotel management trained staff learn different skills required for housekeeping, maintenance, administration, catering, marketing as well as other things.

Hotel management is chiefly focused on the hotel industry. A hotel manager is usually a professional who handles and manages different teams such as room service, food and housekeeping.

What are the differences between hotel and hospitality management?

• Area of work

As the name suggests, hotel management involves every aspect of hotel operations. The term can be applied broadly for any lodging establishment such as a resort, camps or B&B. So, the area of work is the management of hotels and lodging, while hospitality management is a much broader term that is used for any sector which involves management of people and conducting business with them. Hospitality management is a term that can be used for casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, events and hotels.

• Employment sectors

Employment in hotel management will be strictly working in the hotel industry with ample opportunities across resorts, restaurants, hotel chains and more. In hospitality management, employment opportunities are far more varied since the professionals will not be restricted to a specific industry. Professionals can utilise their skills and gain employment in multiple job categories including finance, marketing, HR, operations and many other administrative positions as well. In both of these industries, jobs are available for entry level and higher, managerial positions too.

• Responsibilities

The primary responsibility in hotel management involves making sure that the guests enjoy a pleasant and hassle-free stay at the property. Guests must be welcomed warmly, and have their requests met. The responsibility towards a guest for any hotel starts from the time of check-in to the time of check-out. There are different departments within a hotel that ensure seamless service is provided to the travellers such as room service, concierge, travel desk and housekeeping. All of these department’s function and collaborate to provide an easy experience for the travellers.

Hospitality management is also about taking good care of guests, but the setting is different. One example would be that hospitality managers in big organisations are responsible to meet and greet the foreign delegates and ensure that their visit is successful.

Frequently asked questions

• What are the career options with hospitality management?

A degree in hospitality management will allow you to work as an event manager, accommodation manager, conference centre manager, catering manager, restaurant manager, hotel manager and more. You can find recruitment as air cabin crew, tour manager, human resources as well as a lot of other prospects.

• What are the salaries in hospitality management and hotel management?

The average salary for people in hospitality management ranges from $50,000 to $58,000 per year in Canada, while experienced professionals can make more than $124,000 per year. The average salary of a hotel manager in Canada ranges between $47,000 to $70,000.

• Is hospitality management a good career?

Hospitality management is a very broad term that includes several industries within the travel and tourism sector. It is a very demanding and busy line of work but overall a good place to start a career. If you like to socialise, attend and take care of people, this may be a good career option for you.

Want to learn the most valuable skills from the best hospitality diploma program? Check out the courses offered by the Canadian College of Technology and Business. The co-ops are specially curated for professionals to hone the latest industry skills and take their career to the next level.

The Canadian College of Technology and Business also offers classes taught by industry experts and professionals. The programs are highly interactive and classrooms are smaller in size to encourage participation and communication. To learn more about the program, click here.