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.
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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.
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