What do you learn in Hotel Management

To be a really great hotel manager, you first have to learn a broad range of skills. You need to understand the complex interplay between various aspects of the hospitality sector, including guest services, business operations, and marketing strategies. On top of that, you have to understand people: how to lead a large team, understand consumer trends, and how to provide unforgettable stays for your guests.

Whether you're drawn to managing people or coordinating events, a degree in hotel management equips you with the essential, transferable skills to thrive in virtually any hospitality field. When you graduate from your Hotel Management course, you can easily step into leadership roles in any restaurant, day spa, wellness retreat, event location, residential suite or even a retail brand.

To help you understand exactly what it is you learn when you study Hotel Management (and if it’s worth it!), this article will answer the following key questions:

• Is Hotel Management a good course?
• What do you learn in a Hotel Management course?
• Where to study Hotel Management?
• What do you study for a Hotel Management course?

Let’s start with the basics and take a close look at the benefits of studying Hotel Management in today’s global economy.

Is hotel management a good course?

When considering all your higher education options, of course, you want to choose a path that not only aligns with your interests but also offers guaranteed career choices and the potential for growth. A degree in Hotel Management can be an excellent choice in today’s economy, for a few key reasons:

• Job stability and a strong job market: The hospitality sector is known for its resilience, bouncing back even during economic downturns, as we saw after the pandemic. Skilled professionals in hotels are consistently in high demand, and there are a lot of career options after hotel management studies to consider right now. One estimate projects that Australia will need an extra 21,400 hospitality workers by May 2028 to address the ongoing skills shortage. The growth of the tourism industry, particularly in regions like Australia and Southeast Asia, has led to a consistent rise in job opportunities in hotels, resorts, and other hospitality operators over the past decade. The hotel market in Australia currently has an annual growth rate of 4.7%; higher than the average sector.
• Networking and internship opportunities: Many hotel management training programs also offer connections with industry professionals and Alumni networks. Institutional networks and internal internship programs often lead to job opportunities after graduation.
• Diverse global opportunities and transferable skills: A degree in Hotel Management allows graduates to pursue various leadership roles within hotels, beyond the role of hotel manager. You could focus on hotel restaurant management, or become the sales and marketing director. The versatility of this degree means students can tailor their hotel management careers to their interests. Or, if you decide you want to work in another sector, you can step into a whole new field using the transferable skills you gained with this universal qualification. Plus, one of the biggest draw cards of working in hotels is the ability to work internationally. International hotel brands have properties all over the world: graduates can find employment not only in Australia but also in remote locations or bustling cities around the world, from New York to Hong Kong.
• Personal growth and fast promotion: Hotels are fast-paced work environments that foster constant learning on the job. Students learn to manage stress, solve problems creatively, and communicate effectively with diverse groups of people: skills that will serve you in any situation. Plus, many hotels offer fast-track professional development programs to talented graduates, such as the Marriott Voyage program.

What do you learn in a Hotel Management course?

As a hotel manager, you need to understand every area of your business. Hotel Management students gain a strong foundation in hospitality fundamentals and develop broad industry knowledge, and business and operational skills that apply anywhere in the hospitality industry.

Hospitality fundamentals you learn with hotel management

• Industry overview: Students learn about the history, structure, and legal aspects of the hospitality sector, helping them understand current industry trends and different business models
• Operations management: This covers managing front and back-of-house, food and beverage services, room division, housekeeping and all other areas
• Financial and revenue management: Key topics include budgeting, cost control, and strategies for maximising hotel revenue
• Marketing and sales: Students learn to create marketing strategies using both traditional and digital methods to attract guests
• Human resources: Focus is placed on recruitment, training, and managing staff performance to ensure high-quality service
• Event management: Skills are developed in managing events, from budgeting to logistics and catering
• Customer relationship management: Students learn how to build lasting guest relationships and handle complaints efficiently
• Food and beverage: Managing hotel restaurants, room service, and other food services is essential for ensuring business success

Soft skills you master with hotel management

When studying Hotel Management, in addition to this foundational hospitality knowledge, you also develop a diverse set of soft skills that are critical to succeeding in the hospitality industry, regardless of which role you end up in. These skills are not only relevant to hotel management but are also transferable across various sectors of the tourism and service industries, even in retail, events or aviation. Some of these key skills you will learn and practise include:

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Flexibility
• Teamwork
• Creativity and innovation

Practising skills through simulation, activities and internships:

A good course in Hotel Management should incorporate practical, hands-on experiences that allow students to develop soft skills and apply what they've learned in real-world situations.

• Live simulation learning: Some programs include role-playing scenarios where students can practise dealing with customer inquiries, handling complaints, and managing staff in simulated hotel environments. For example, students at the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS), part of Torrens University Australia, have access to VR and on-campus simulated hotel learning environments, where they can practise soft skills in a controlled environment.
• Industry placements: Any good Hotel Management course should offer opportunities for practical experience as a crucial part of your education. Industry placements provide hands-on training, allowing you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world environments. When you study Hotel Management at BMIHMS, subjects like Industry Placement I and Industry Placement II are built into your curriculum, providing students the opportunity to work in industry-partner hotels and gain invaluable insights into daily operations and guest management.

What subjects will you complete with hotel management?

A hotel management degree covers a wide range of subjects that equip you with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to succeed in the industry. Here’s an overview of some key subject areas in a typical Bachelor of International Hotel and Resort Management at BMIHMS:

• Business and management skills: Courses like Business Academic Skills, Strategic Hotel Management, and Understanding People and Organisations teach you the foundations of business management, human resources and leadership in the context of the hotel industry
• Guest experience and service management: A key focus of hotel management is ensuring guests have an excellent experience. Subjects like Guest Experience and Service Management and Food and Beverage Operations provide insights into what it takes to create exceptional customer service, covering everything from dining to housekeeping
• Rooms division and accommodation management: Subjects such as Rooms Division - Housekeeping and Rooms Division - Front Office focus on key aspects of running the front-end services, ensuring rooms are clean, and well-maintained, and that guests are checked in smoothly
• Financial Operations and revenue management: Running a profitable hotel requires a solid understanding of financial management. Courses like Food and Beverage Cost Control and Revenue Management teach you how to manage budgets, control expenses, and optimise revenue through strategic pricing and inventory management
• Event management: Many hotels also offer event services, from corporate conferences to weddings. Subjects like Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) give you the skills to manage large-scale events and deliver excellent service to event organisers and guests
• Sustainability and ethics: With the growing importance of sustainability in all industries, subjects like Environmental Sustainability for Hotels and Resorts help you understand the challenges and strategies involved in running a sustainable hotel. You’ll learn about green practices, energy efficiency, and ethical decision-making in hospitality management
• Entrepreneurship and innovation: Courses such as Entrepreneurship and Innovations encourage you to develop new ideas and business models that address current and future trends in the industry: ideal for those who dream of starting their own hotel or hospitality business one day

Is it hard to learn Hotel Management?

Studying Hotel Management can be challenging, but it's also an exciting and rewarding journey. While it requires dedication, time management and hard work balancing study with practical experience and internships, it's a field that offers diverse learning opportunities and huge benefits. As most of the vast BMIHMS alumni community would agree, it’s well worth the hard work.

Where to study Hotel Management?

Australia is renowned as a top destination for studying Hotel Management. With its rich cultural diversity and vibrant urban centres, world-class education system, and thriving tourism industry, students can gain valuable insights and direct experience with international hotel brands.

Students who gain a Hotel Management qualification in Australia will be certain that the quality of their course is guaranteed by strict national regulatory standards. Because of these high standards, Australian hospitality qualifications are recognised globally.

What to study for Hotel Management course?

One of Australia’s premier hotel management training institutions is the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS), which is part of Torrens University Australia. Ranked number 3 in Oceania in the QS World University Rankings for Hospitality and Leisure Management Schools, BMIHMS is known for its strong industry connections, placement programs and comprehensive training. Located in one of Australia’s oldest frequented tourism destinations, the stunning Blue Mountains region in NSW, BMIHMS offers practical training in the simulated on-campus hotel in Leura, alongside academic study.

Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School

BMIHMS offers various courses designed to equip students with the necessary skills for a successful career in hospitality management. If you're considering a career in hotel management, here are various degree options you can pursue:

• Bachelor of Business (International Hotel and Resort Management)
• Diploma of Business (International Hotel and Resort Management)
• Associate Degree of Business (International Hotel and Resort Management)
• Master of International Hotel Management