Difference between Hospitality and Hotel Management
Difference between Hospitality and Hotel Management- If you have ever dreamt of working in the hotel management industry, you must necessarily know the key difference between hospitality management and hotel management. There always seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to choosing between hotel management and a hospitality management degree. India has always been a land that treats its guests as its own citizens as is evident from the common saying, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. Thus implying, hospitality is ingrained in its culture.
There are numerous hospitality management courses and degrees available in India. However, these hospitality management courses are often confused with hotel management courses. Many students usually consider both one and the same. But are they? Can they be used interchangeably? Turns out it isn’t so. Though both hotel management and hospitality management deal with the service sector, they are quite different from each other. Let us look into the broader aspects so that you get a clear picture of what is the difference between hospitality and hotel management.
What is Hotel Management?
Hotel Management, as the term suggests, is focused on managing all aspects related to the functioning of a hotel. It involves learning management techniques that are applicable to hotel administration, marketing, housekeeping, maintenance, catering, etc. Unlike the hospitality industry, hotel management is focused on the hotel industry and its functioning. There are multiple job profiles in hotel management and the scope of a career in hotel management depends upon the education of the candidate, work experience, skills, and ability to handle tough situations.
Popular Online Hospitality Courses and Certifications
- Online Hospitality Courses
- Online Hospitality Management Courses
- Online Hospital Administration Courses
Hospitality Management Meaning
Hospitality management is all about people. Hospitality is not restricted to the hotel alone but could be anywhere. The ‘Travel and Tourism’ industry looks to hire professionals from hospitality, of which hotel management is a significant branch. Students of hospitality management can have wider career options in hospitality than a hotel management student. In fact, many MNCs and some of the larger IT companies employ hospitality management professionals to coordinate guest arrivals, meetings, dining and departure, while at their premises. With a continually changing business environment and emerging strategies in technologies, the hotel industry has given a new look to the hospitality careers as per the new-age workforce.
Hospitality Management Vs Hotel Management
While the hospitality and hotel industry are both parts of the travel and tourism sector, they are different in various respects. The following table analyses the prime differences between hotel management vs hospitality management:
Difference between Hotel and Hospitality Management
Particulars | Hotel Management | Hospitality Management |
Area of work | Only concerned with the hotel industry and its functioning | An umbrella term concerned with different industries like food and beverage, travel, event management, etc. |
Job Opportunities | Available only in the hotel sector with jobs like hotel manager, housekeeping, etc | Available in varied sectors with jobs like casino manager, event manager, resort manager, etc. |
Driven by | Operations management | People management |
Remuneration | Salaries are high only after gaining relevant years of experience | Entry-level jobs also pay well |
5 Key Differences between Hospitality and Hotel Management
Let us now try to understand more clearly the main differences in detail between the hotel management and hospitality management.
1. Area of work
As the name suggests, hotel management deals with all aspects of managing a hotel or more broadly, any lodging establishment such as a B&B, resort, etc. India, being an important tourism hub, is home to a large number of hotels and hotel chains. Hotel management involves managing their day-to-day operations. Hospitality management, on the other hand, is a broader term used to describe any sector that deals with people management. It could be casinos, nightclubs, conferences, events, sales, business development, and even hotels.
2. Employment sectors
Hotel management mandates working exclusively in the hotel industry or the travel and tourism industry. Hence, you may find ample opportunities with hotel chains, resorts, and restaurants.
With hospitality management, the opportunities for employment are far greater and varied. Since you will not be restricted to working in the hotel industry alone, you can utilize your skills in departments such as operations, marketing, HR, finance, and in various administrative positions.
3. Driving factors
Hotel management is largely an operations-oriented subject. Hotel managers mostly ensure each department in the hotel runs like a well-oiled machine. A hotel management degree, thus, provides intense training on how to manage these departments. Hospitality management is about people management. The aim is to make sure guests are comfortable and satisfied with their experience at the event, venue, hotel, etc. A great hospitality employee is one who takes customer/client experiences to the next level.
4. Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities, with hotel management, is ensuring guests enjoy a pleasant stay at their establishment. It involves taking care of them from the moment they check-in to the moment they check-out. Every single activity of the guest has to be outstanding to ensure their visit is worth their money. Departments such as the front desk, travel desk, housekeeping, concierge, room service, guest service, etc. are all the responsibilities of a hotel manager. Similar to hotel management, hospitality management also includes taking care of guests, albeit in a different setting. For example, hospitality managers in large organizations are responsible for meeting and greeting foreign delegates and ensuring they have everything they need for a successful visit.
5. Industry Dependence
India, being one of the premier tourist destinations in the world, enjoys a healthy influx of tourists every year. This allows the hotel industry to thrive and flourish. The hotel industry is, therefore, heavily dependent on the tourism industry. Due to the very fact that hospitality management is all about people, it is independent of any particular industry. Many IT companies, MNCs, and organizations from a wide variety of industries employ hospitality management professionals to coordinate events, meetings, and guest relations. As you can see, hotel management is restricted to managing the operations of a lodging or food and beverage establishment whereas hospitality management includes and extends above and beyond these sectors. This makes hospitality a highly sought-after degree as it offers employment opportunities in a wide array of industries.
Student Also Liked
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The main difference between hotel management and hospitality management is- hotel management, covers all aspects of managing a hotel, whereas hospitality management is a broader term that deals with people management in sectors, such as nightclubs, casinos, restaurants, transportation, and even hotels.
The hospitality sector is driven by the people management while the hotel industry is driven by the operations management.
Departments such as the front desk, travel desk, housekeeping, concierge, room service, guest service, etc. are all the responsibilities of a hotel manager.
In the hotel industry you may find ample opportunities with hotel chains, resorts, and restaurants. On the other hand since in the hospitality industry you will not be restricted to working in the hotel industry alone, you can utilize your skills in departments such as operations, marketing, HR, finance, and in various administrative positions.
Articles
Browse Hospitality Colleges by State
Explore Career Options (By Industry)
Food Scientist
A career as a food scientist requires working full-time in the laboratory. He or she analyses data, works on computer programmes, and monitors the processors involved in food production. He or she examines raw materials and surroundings to detect problems. A food scientist is employed in research universities, government agencies, departments, and private entities such as food production facilities in order to do research work in terms of studying food production, storage, and transportation facilities.
Food Inspector
A career as a food inspector comes with the responsibility to ensure the food is healthy for human consumption. A food inspector inspects the food processing entities, manufacturing companies, restaurants, and dairy farms to collect samples for investigating the quality of food ingredients and preservatives being used in the food product to be sold in the market. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how to become a food inspector.
Food Engineer
A Food Engineer is a professional who is responsible for processing, packaging, and improving food products. He or she either works in the agricultural or food processing industry holding the responsibility of ensuring higher quality of food products including safety, supply, nutrition, and value.
Food Technologist
Food technologists are responsible for developing healthy and safe food. They ensure the food being produced is hygienic and tastes the finished product. A Food technologist's career requires working in product development and with food product suppliers. This study is a blend of principles of management, science, and marketing to produce or develop quality and hygienic food.
Family Social Worker
In a career as family social worker, an individual help those people who grow up in dysfunctional families and suffer from mild to extreme dysfunction. Some people are able to overcome the obstacles that childhood brought them and have a positive impact on the future. This negative behavior brings great pressure on family members. Sometimes they need help to learn how to deal with certain family situations or problems faced on a personal level. Individuals who opt for a career as family social worker can help restore harmony by providing services to families in crisis.
Chef
Individuals in chef career path work responsibilities include planning the menu, observing the kitchen, and supervising the entire kitchen staff. In the beginning, a trainee chef might be asked to wash dishes, clean the kitchen, and chop vegetables. There is a gradual process of learning and growth to reach the final destination ‘head chef’.
Every restaurant needs a culinarian and the country has a thousand great restaurant chains. So, there are immense career opportunities as well. In this article, we will discuss Chef roles and responsibilities, how to become a Chef in India, Chef skills, Chef eligibility, how to become chef after 12th and Chef qualification.
Linguist
Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning).
Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French, German, Italian.
Event Manager
Event Managers are professionals responsible for planning, organising, and executing various types of events, ensuring they run smoothly and meet the desired objectives. They coordinate all aspects, from selecting venues and managing budgets to overseeing logistics and collaborating with suppliers. Event Managers work closely with clients to understand their goals and tailor events accordingly.
Event Managers manage teams, delegate tasks, and handle unexpected challenges to ensure events are successful. Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills are vital in this role. They operate in diverse settings, including corporate, social, and entertainment events, and may work independently or for event management companies.
Also read: Bachelor of Event Management (BEM) Course
Travel Agent
A travel agent works in the tour and travel industry. His or her work responsibility involves arranging travel for the end clients such as individuals, corporations, or groups on behalf of suppliers such as hotels, airlines, package tours, and other facilities. A travel agent involves working for an independent travel agency or can be a part of a travel agency.
Individuals who opt for a career as a travel agent are involved in planning trips for their clients in their day-to-day life. Travel agents stay updated about the hospitality and travel industry. Students can pursue some travel agent courses, such as BTTM (Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management), and MTHM (Master in Tourism and Hotel Management) to become a travel agent.
Hotel Manager
A hotel manager manages the hotel staff and services provided to clients and guests. Individuals in the hotel management career path, negotiate on contracts with vendors providing various services in the hotel. He or she coordinates with different departments to ensure that the best services and facilities are provided to guests.
The hotel manager manages the hotel's budget. He or she supervises staff and maintains rules and regulations. The hotel manager handles customer relationships and solves their issues. Here, in this article, we will discuss the details of a hotel management career, and how to get into a hotel management career.
Food Stylist
A food stylist is a culinary art specialist who is responsible for making the food look arranged in a presentable way decked up with accessories for a close shot. He or she works with chefs, photographers and editors.
Bartender
The bartender is the person who mixes and serves drinks at the bar. He or she helps the people to serve drinks at parties which adds to the glamour of the event or the night and makes the environment like a party mood. It is difficult to plan parties without the help of a bartender serving beers and alcohol with all the mixing techniques.
Students can pursue BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management), or other related courses to opt for a bartender career in India. Here, in this article, we will discuss the details of how to become a Bartender in India, bartending a good job, bartender career growth, bartender roles and responsibilities, bartender courses in India, and bartender skills.
Station Master
A Station Master is also known as SM in its abbreviated form. He or she is an executive employed by Indian Railway Recruitment Board responsible for running trains at a station. The role of Station Master comes with the responsibility of being in charge of running trains at the station assigned to him or her.
A career as Station Master requires to holds the responsibility to operate signals and ensure everything is as per the railway rules and regulations. The primary responsibility of the Station Master is ensuring that all the passenger amenities are fit and fine at his or her station so that travellers do not face any problems.
Linguist
Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning).
Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French, German, Italian.
Travel Agent
A travel agent works in the tour and travel industry. His or her work responsibility involves arranging travel for the end clients such as individuals, corporations, or groups on behalf of suppliers such as hotels, airlines, package tours, and other facilities. A travel agent involves working for an independent travel agency or can be a part of a travel agency.
Individuals who opt for a career as a travel agent are involved in planning trips for their clients in their day-to-day life. Travel agents stay updated about the hospitality and travel industry. Students can pursue some travel agent courses, such as BTTM (Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management), and MTHM (Master in Tourism and Hotel Management) to become a travel agent.
Travel Journalist
A travel journalist is one who travels to different locations, explores them, and researches their history and cultural heritage. The travel journalist plans and organises the trip and looks after factors such as bookings, routes, destinations to visit, expenses, and other logistics. The travel journalist writes about the experience throughout the journey on various social media platforms, magazines, or even blogs.
He or she might also create travel guidebooks or memoirs to guide other tourists through his or her experience. Here, in this article, we will be discussing what a travel journalist does, travel journalist's salary is, how to become a travel journalist, how a travel journalist is in India, what a travel journalist's job description is, and what is travel journalism.
Travel Planner
A travel planner is a professional who assists clients or people in planning and organising their trips. He or she is responsible for making arrangements for the client's travel requirements such as reservations, booking flights, and arranging transport. A travel planner may also visit the holiday destinations and resorts to help the clients make informed decisions.
In a career as a travel planner, he or she must design cost-effective travel packages according to the client's needs and budget and provide the best recommendations to them. The travel planner oversees the negotiations for the accommodation, transportation, rental companies, tour guides and restaurants for the clients to get the maximum benefits of trips.