Hotel Management in the USA: Course, University & Admission
- Categories All Study in Abroad Blogs, Study in the US
- Date July 9, 2024
The education sector has grown beyond commerce and science. It entertains and encourages several interests as much as skills. The job market further operates with a high demand of these professionals who can dedicatedly work towards the company’s missions and goals. In effect, these courses are rising in demand as it aligns with the interests of many. Students now learn and improve skills of jobs that interest them and make a successful career out of it. Hotel Management, too, has seen some piquing interests. The industry sums its value to 5.5 trillion USD employing 320 million individuals. From organisational structure to food and beverages, from human resources to security, it further branches out to a handful of sectors. And one of the best study destinations to study, work and experience these sectors is the USA.
In this blog, we will delve into the hotel management programs in the USA with course options, universities and admissions.
Benefits of Studying Hotel Management in the USA
The USA has always been at the forefront of the hospitality sector. It not only roofs a rising number of hotel chains and restaurants but develops a high demand strengthening their feet globally. As the focal point of the world, it is an ideal place to reap benefits of a hotel management course. In fact, out of the 52 US hotel management universities and institutes, 40 rank amongst the top 150 of the world. International students can enrol to these universities to study a variety of disciplines such as tourism, marketing, business management, public relations and events and food management. Their curriculum comprehends the need for global hospitality knowledge as well as on-hand training. and experience. Upon graduation, they can either stay back to indulge in the US booming economy or work internationally.
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The Course Curriculum
The field itself is quite extensive. The USA offers hotel management courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. Students can also choose to gain specialisation across various disciplines. The course prepares them to understand different aspects of managing a hospitality or food chain. Not only that, the courses are designed to improve the business skills of the students. They can take the course full-time, part-time, online or with a distance learning option. Particularly, the subjects covered under the hotel management courses in the USA are:
- Accommodations Operations
- Agribusiness Marketing and Management
- Brewing and Fermentation Service
- Event Planning and Management
- Food and Beverage Production
- Food and Beverage Service
- Food Safety and Technology
- Global Food Security
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Hospitality Communication
- Hotel Administration
- Hotel Engineering
- Hotel Financial Accounting
- Housekeeping
- Human Resource Management
- Information Systems
- Management and Organisational Behaviour
- Management Communication
- Marketing and Tourism Strategy
- Nutrition
- Nutrition and Food Service Management
- Principles of Food Science
- Properties of Development and Management
- Restaurant Management
- Sports and Recreation Service Management
- Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism
- Sustainable Food System
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Leading Hotel Management Universities
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Financial Aspects
The cost of pursuing a hotel management course in the USA, as much as anywhere else, depends on the program, university and other factors. Typically, the tuition fee for a 48-month bachelor level course of hotel management costs about USD 27,000 or INR 21.6 lakh per year. Whereas, a post graduation in hotel management may cost about USD 23,000 or INR 18.4 Lakhs. The master’s degree takes 1-2 years of learning with the knowledge to work in renowned hotels, studios, and other hospitable workplaces. It goes without saying that the better university you apply to, the higher the cost of education. Furthermore, students must also bank on INR 8.79 lakh per year to spend on accommodation, transportation, food and other expenses.
Students can apply for scholarships, fellowships and loans to significantly lessen their financial burdens. In fact, there are quite a handful of scholarships available for students applying to pursue a hotel management course in the USA. Some of the popular ones are Hani Zeini Scholarship, QS Undergraduate Scholarship and Brian Colombana Scholarship. Jonah Engler Scholarship and the Chip Unsworth Scholarship are quite generous too.
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Student Visa
The USA has F1, M1 and J1 visas for international students and F2, M2 and J2 visas for their dependents. Particularly, students enrolled in a full-time hotel management course at a US university need the F1 visas upon acceptance from the university. They can apply for the visa with their I-20 form, visa application form and fee coupled with a valid passport, photographs and ID proof. Notably, the processing fee for an F1 visa is USD 160 or INR 13367.16. Students also need their previous marksheets and records, English proficiency test results and entrance exam scores.
Typically, universities only accept students with at least 60% or equivalents in their previous qualification. Test results of either TOEFL with 80, IELTS with 6.5, PTE with 65 or the GRE with 310 or more is acceptable. SAT/CAT could be demanded too. Apart from these, they might help to file their resume, Statement of Purpose and Letter of Recommendation.
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Career Prospects
Students can apply for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completing their studies to gain experience in the US hospitality industry for up to 1 year. Afterwards, they need to apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to continue working. As a fresher, they can earn an average salary of about 176,000 USD or INR 1.45 Cr. They can work as Catering Sales Manager, Hospitality Services Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Tour and Sales Coordinator, Event Manager, etc. Customer Service Representatives and managers are paid exceptionally.
Companies such as Roosevelt Hotels, Belmond Hotels, The Plaza, Marriott Bonvoy Hotels among others are actively seeking skilled employees to serve their customers. As they reside at the heart of the country, they promise prolonged exposures. Some of the other top F&B recruiters are Cameron Mitchell Restaurant, Caribou Coffee and Mosaic Lounge. The Blackwell Inn, Columbus Blue Jackets in Colombo, too, pay well. Global chains like Crowne Plaza & Lofts, Hampton Inn, Hyatt Regency and Four Seasons also host great opportunities.
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