Attending Hotel Management School Can Result in a Number of Careers

Careers in general hotel management, human resources management, sales and marketing management, convention services or tour coordination, and cruise line management all fall under the same umbrella when it comes to the area of study. One must attend a hotel management school. At Centennial College, the Hospitality Management – Hotel and Resort program is the best fit within the hotel management school to gain the skills needed to succeed in these areas.

Now is a great time to attend the undertaking as Canada’s accommodation industry continues to expand and seeks qualified professionals to manage the 8,356 Canadian hotels, motels, inns and resorts — accommodations that employ 378,000 people and generated revenues of almost $18.8-billion in 2008.

This hotel management school program covers the full range of business practices in marketing, human resources, finance and industry operations as applied to the accommodation industry. In addition to lectures, students gain valuable hands-on experience through an individualized industry placement, which sees them working alongside hotel and resort managers as apply the knowledge they obtained at Centennial. To give you an idea of the specific courses students study within this program, let’s take a look at some of the topics that are covered. For example, Introduction to Hospitality Management provides an introduction to the various facets under the “Tourism Umbrella”, establishing tourism as not just an economic activity with constituent parts but as a human endeavour, but understanding the relationship between the various components of hospitality, with emphasis on the hotels and resorts. Meanwhile, Hospitality and Tourism Marketing sees students defining marketing, distinguishing between product and services marketing and demonstrating an understanding of consumer behaviour, market segmentation, the marketing mix and their application to the marketing plan. Other courses include: Special Events Practicum, Housekeeping and Facilities Management and Theory of Food.

At the end of two years of Hotel Management School study, students will have the skills to be successful managers if their chosen area. In their managerial role, they will know how to apply human resources, management, and leadership knowledge and skills to enhance their performance as an employee and team member. In addition, they’ll know how to apply basic cost control, revenue management and principles of financial planning, analysis and control to assist in making decisions at an operational level and to contribute to the achievement of financial plans of a hospitality enterprise. With their marketing training, they’ll also have the know-how to contribute to marketing and sales effectiveness to promote successful operation of a hospitality enterprise.

To meet the growing demand for hotel and resort managers, Centennial College admits students at three points during the year (September, January and May), allowing them to complete the two year program in 16 months. To apply for the Hospitality Management – Hotel and Resort program, students must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required is a compulsory English 12C or U credit, skills assessment or equivalent. Possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.