Online Hospitality MBA Degree Programs

Online hospitality MBA degree programs include travel and tourism. This is an industry that is growing at a fast rate globally.

Hospitality and tourism MBA degree programs are important to the success of facilities such as resorts, hotels, airline industry, and travel agencies. Hospitality managers are responsible for many tasks including organizing special events, financial management, food and beverages, human resources management, and purchases among other tasks. The MBA in hospitality and tourism is therefore a specialized degree with applications in a many career options, as all sectors of travel and tourism employ management techniques at varying levels. Specific concentration vary by program of study but some areas might include culinary arts, travel and tourism, accounting, management, marketing as well as public relations and advertising. Programs may also focus on domestic or international travel and tourism as well as gaming and casinos, spa management, and amusement parks.

Selected Online Hospitality MBA Degree Programs

Strayer University

• MBA - Hospitality and Tourism Management

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Hospitality Management Masters Education and Training

An MBA in hospitality management and other hospitality masters programs teach graduate students the specific knowledge and skills that are important to pertinent issues in the tourism and hospitality industry. Typical hospitality and tourism courses include:

• Convention management
• Travel and hospitality technology
• Employee management
  
• International tourism
• Business communication
• Economics
• Real estate finance and investments
• Food and beverages
• Front office operations
• Purchasing and inventory control
• Hospitality facilities design
• Housekeeping management
• Resort development
• Sanitation and safety
• Gaming and casino management
• Global tourism

Other areas include: Hospitality marketing strategy, Culinary theory and practice, Hotel operations, franchising, and supply chain management.

Hospitality and Tourism Careers

Graduates of hospitality programs can include working for hotels, resorts, airlines, travel agencies, as well as restaurant management. In addition, with an MBA in hospitality management degree you can work for cruise ships, bed and breakfasts, and other hospitality facilities at a management or supervisory level. Career options include:

• Management in hotels and resorts
• Convention management
• Business ownership
• Director of tours and travel services
• Real estate development

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that graduates of hospitality management programs should have especially positive prospects in restaurant management and hotels and resorts. With a master�s degree, managerial positions are more available. The BLS reports the following salaries in 2008:

• Restaurant Manager - $53,750
• Lodging Manager - $53,500
• Meeting and Convention Planner - $48,060
• Casino Manager - $74,030

With campus and online hospitality MBA degree programs, lodging managers earn close to $40,000 a year while travel agents earn around $28,000 a year without a graduate degree. Those at the upper end of the income scale make around $75,000 annually. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistic predicts an industry growth rate of 4.7% between 2008 and 2018 while casino or gaming will see 11.8% and restaurant or food service managers and 18% respectively.