Over the past years, the hospitality sector has grown by leaps and bounds. After globalization and liberalization, hospitality and tourism industry has seen an upward trend. The hospitality sector encompasses hotel industry, events, travel and tourism industry, luxury services, food services etc. Students who pursue MBA in hospitality should expect a combination of good salary package, decent lifestyle and personal growth. One has to learn the tricks of trade and be proficient to come up to the expectations of the clients/customers in the hospitality sector. The expectations of the affluent class for high quality services have risen in all sectors whether it is travel and tourism or hotels/ wellness resorts.
Today’s youth has many aspirations as regards to personal as well as professional growth. The hospitality and tourism sector provides many opportunities for qualified management graduates having a degree in Hospitality management. These management graduates can be optimistic about getting jobs in top luxury hotels, for instance, The Oberoi Group, ITC hotels, Taj group of hotels and many others.
Why MBA in Hospitality Management?
Students who have completed graduation from IHM’s and State Institutes of Hotel Management pursue MBA in hospitality management as it is a logical extension of their education. One of the renowned institutions providing education and training related to tourism sector is Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM). This institution comes under Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Students who are inclined towards tourism industry should pursue BBA in travel and tourism management and then further aim to do post graduation in this field. The IITTM institutes accept one of the MBA (CAT,CMAT,MAT, XAT, GMAT, ATMA) entrance scores or appear for “IGNTU IITTM Admission Test (IIAT)”.The next stage of selection entails students to clear group discussion and interview round. Total number of seats is 600 in the IITTM campuses ( Noida, Gwalior, Bhubaneswar and Nellore )
Scope of MBA in Hospitality Management:-
Globalisation has opened many avenues for growth and employment catering to a broad bracket of qualified and ambitious people. Moreover, under the hospitality sector, there is a range of products (like adventure, wellness, cruises, religious tourism, etc.) that contribute significantly to the economy of the nation. A visible trend observed over the years is the rise in the income levels of the middle class; therefore, the spending power has increased in sectors like travel and tourism. The famous hotel chains and travel companies are competing to provide better services with additional benefits or takeaways to the customer and trying to appease him to become a loyal patron. Therefore, the requirement for skilled workforce, who understands the requirements of clients and delivers high quality service, has risen. There is lot of scope for individuals who have completed MBA (Hospitality) to get a high paying job and challenging assignments.
Role of an MBA Hospitality Management:-
Successful professionals opine that students with strong communication skills, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, and are a problem solver can expect to make a mark in this industry. Candidates working in the hospitality sector should have the ability to handle stress and meet deadlines. Students in MBA (hospitality management) study case studies focusing on customer behaviour to understand the dynamics of the hospitality industry. A visible trend over the past years is the availability of disposable income of the affluent people for leisure, travelling and wellness activities. As this is a digital era, customers are much more aware and communicate their requirements. A qualified individual in MBA (Hospitality) can expect to get jobs in Food Production, Food and Beverage Service, Front Office Operation and House Keeping departments. Students can choose any one of these areas to gain experience-Hotels & resorts, travel & tourism, culinary arts, consulting, event management, aviation, beauty and wellness, cruise etc. An apt quote sums it all:-
“Courteous treatment will make a customer a walking advertisement” by James Cash Penney.
Colleges offering MBA-Hospitality programmes:-
One of the top MBA colleges providing MBA in Hospitality management is Welingkar Institute of Management Development. This institute is known for its two-year hybrid programme PGDM. There are many advantages of being a part of this course as students get access to virtual classrooms, e-learning kit, personal contact programs etc. Another top institute which students can aim to get admission in is Amity University that has a two year MBA - Hospitality Management programme. The following list will give information about top MBA colleges providing MBA – Hospitality management.
- Amity School of Hospitality
- Welingkar Institute of Management Development.
- Christ University – Bangalore
- Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management - Bhubaneswar
- Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management - Gwalior
- National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management – Hyderabad
- Anna University-Chennai
- Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition- Bhubaneswar (P.G. Diploma in Accommodation Operation Management)
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (Manipal Academy of Higher Resources)
- Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata
List of Subjects in MBA Hospitality Management course:-
- Customer Relationship Management
- Facility Planning, Design & Management
- Front Office & Accommodation Management
- Food Science & Dietetic Management
- Public Relations & Corporate Image
- Total Quality Management
- Event & Conference Management
- Hospitality & Tourism Management
The above information would prove to be very helpful to students who are intending to make a career in hospitality sector. A post graduate degree in Hospitality & Tourism will open avenues for students in many service oriented sectors.