How hard is it to study hotel management? Should I do it??

Question

I am graduating in two years and I have to start thinking about what majors im taking and what i want to study. Im really interested in hotel management, but I dont know if its ok for a girl or something. Many people told me that its extra hours work and all. Is anyone here familiar with it? Please give me advice on whether or not i should try looking into it, or i should just listen to my dad and think otherwise?

Answer 1

It is a lot of hours and extra work. But to address your main question, most of the people I know in the industry do not have a background of hotel management.
What they do have is communications, or business in general, or marketing, etc.
I don't think most hotel chains require any kind of hospitality degree for this, and most of them are more about people working their way up through the ranks and knowing the business.
In order to run a small hotel, many companies actually prefer someone who has some business experience but who really knows the community and is well known and well thought of there. (Bowing to the belief that people do business with and refer business to people they know and like.)
I would suggest a job at a hotel while you are taking courses to see if you even like the environment. If you get into a small hotel at the front desk you can have your GM show you a lot of what they do, and this is the best way to learn. They are short handed and need all kinds of help and will let you help so much that they practically train you (free of charge) to do their job. If you can work yourself into a front desk maanger position or an assistant general manager spot, you will be in line to be considered when the company opens a new hotel or looks to replace the existing GM. I've seen it happen hundreds of times. In the meantime, you can just be taking classes toward a degree that is more general than hotel management and can serve you well in many fields. Much smarter move.
Feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 2

I took the 2 year course at George Brown College in Toronto. I loved it. There are lots of girls in the course. There are downsides to the hospitality industry though. You are working whenever everyone else is playing. It's not a 9-5 job, you work holidays, night, weekends. You should do what you're interested in, not what your Dad tells you to. If you do that, you won't be happy. If you're a real people person, enjoy problem solving, and working with the public, hospitality is for you. Many doors can open for you including, banquet manager, cruise ships, beverage manager, resorts, there is tons to choose from. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 3

Nobody needs a degree in Tourism, its just another fluffy subject. Have you looked at what sort of jobs you will get when you finish. As for the other one, my friends son has this degree and works 80 hours a week as a hotel manager for a meagre wage. Work out how much debt you will be in when you leave, and what sort of wage you will get - if you get a job, and see if its worth it.