What Can I Do with a Degree in HTE?

What Can You Do with a Degree in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management?

A degree in hospitality, tourism and event management can lead to a wide variety of in-demand jobs in the different, yet related fields of hospitality management, tourism management and event management.

All three center around creating meaningful experiences while ensuring smooth operations behind the scenes. 

What is Hospitality Management? 

Hospitality management focuses on the operations of hotels, resorts, and other lodging accommodations. Professionals balance guest experience with financial goals, and multiple teams work together to make this happen. Common areas include: 

• Operations: Overseeing departments to ensure daily functions are running smoothly. 
• Financial Management: Monitoring revenue and working with marketing or sales to design promotions that support bookings. 
• Administrative Management: Handling budgeting, financial planning, and day-to-day cost monitoring. 

Hospitality management is a strong fit for people who enjoy challenges, creative problem-solving, and working as part of a team. For example, if a property’s main restaurant is fully booked, the staff may need to promote a lesser-known restaurant through a special. Finance ensures the pricing supports the bottom line, marketing spreads the word across the property, and wait staff communicate the option to guests. It’s a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same, bookings fluctuate, needs shift quickly, and professionals learn to think on their feet. 

What is better—a Business Degree or a Hospitality Degree? 

If you want to work in hotels or resorts, a hospitality degree gives you a clear advantage. CWU’s program offers hands-on training through internships, giving you insight into how each department functions day-to-day. If you’re primarily interested in hospitality finance, a business degree may also work, but your role options will be more limited and specialized. 

One of the perks of hospitality is the mobility. Professionals often move between properties or even countries, and this mobility is recognized as a strength, not a drawback. Learn more about a our Hospitality Management bachelor of science.

What is Event Management? 

Event management covers a wide range of gatherings: on-property meetings, weddings, corporate conferences, large-scale incentive trips, and more. Meetings and events represent significant revenue for hotels and companies, which is why entire teams are devoted to planning and executing them. CWU offers a BS in Event Management, which you can read more about if interested.

In today’s post-COVID world, event management is a thriving global industry, especially in the corporate sector. Large companies, particularly in tech, often need to bring dispersed teams together for multi-day programs that can cost millions of dollars. Event managers ensure everything runs flawlessly from start to finish. Their work might include setting up AV technology, coordinating security protocols for badging, or working on-site with vendors and builders. Many positions include substantial travel, which is a major draw for people who enjoy working in new environments. 

What is Tourism Management? 

Tourism management focuses on creating travel experiences. Professionals in this area might work for chambers of commerce, visitor centers, ports, resorts, or cruise lines. They may design and coordinate excursions such as guided hikes, cultural tours, bird-watching trips, or helicopter glacier landings. Tourism managers often build and manage these packages and may even lead the experiences themselves. Travel is commonly part of the job, and the work is ideal for those who enjoy exploring new places. 

Do you get to travel with jobs in HTE? 

HTE graduates can choose roles with extensive travel, occasional travel, or no travel at all. The industry is flexible, and mobility is widely accepted and encouraged. Graduates often move between destinations or properties as part of their career growth—by choice. Find out of our Tourism Management degree is right for you.