If trends continue, professionals in the field of hospitality and tourism will find their career choices nearly limitless.
The industry is the fastest growing and changing retail field in the U.S., experiencing growth of about 23 percent annually. Airlines, restaurants, schools, health care, catering, theme parks, resorts, country clubs and an array of other businesses have an ongoing demand for managers and service workers in this field.
In keeping with these changes, Purdue University in July changed the name of its Department of Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional and Tourism Management to the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
“We changed the name to better reflect the change and growth in the industry,” said Ray Kavanaugh, head of the department. “The old name represents three components, but there is so much more than that in the industry. For example, we’re adding a professional golf management program to our department. The new name is more inclusive of all the areas in which our graduates can work.”
The program includes about 550 undergraduates and 50 graduate students working toward degrees in the science of hotel and tourism management.
“This field is the third-largest retail industry in the United States, right behind automobiles and food stores, and is one of the top three employers in 29 states,” Kavanaugh said. “The strongest growth is in the golf industry, fine dining, and economy and upscale lodging.”
According to figures from the National Restaurant Association, Americans spent $519 billion on restaurants and tourism in 1999, up about $90 billion from the previous year.
To fulfill the steadily increasing demand for professionals, Purdue offers associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in this field, as well a doctoral degree in consumer science and retailing.
“An individual in this program learns something about every business discipline, including marketing, human resources, accounting and purchasing,” Kavanaugh said. “We’re working right now on getting a doctoral program in hospitality and tourism management.”
Purdue hospitality and tourism management graduates have a 90 percent job placement and can expect to be paid $25,000 to $40,000 their first year.
