A High-Growth Industry for High-Energy People
The hospitality industry provides job seekers with a variety of career opportunities, from hotels and motels to restaurants, resorts, country clubs, cruise ships and casinos. As part of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), accommodation and food services represented 2.6 percent of the GDP in 2004 — with more than $308 billion in revenues — accounting for about 8 percent of all employment nationally.
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration lists the hospitality industry as a high-growth sector, with accommodation and food services making up about 8.1 percent of employment in the country. Overall job openings are expected to grow 18 percent through 2012, adding more than 1.6 million new jobs.
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies two primary sectors in the leisure and hospitality industry:
- Arts/entertainment/leisure sector
- Accommodation/food services sector (including restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, RV parks, boarding houses, casino hotels, resorts, inns and bed and breakfasts)
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It is the accommodation/food services sector that President George W. Bush’s high growth job training initiative identifies as showing outstanding job growth. The sector is expected to add more than 1.6 million new jobs to the economy through 2012, and includes about 479,000 employers in cities, towns and rural areas across the country.
On a more local scale, the Hospitality Educators Association of Texas (HEAT) estimates that the hospitality industry in Texas generates nearly $2.2 billion in state tax revenues and $676 million locally. The hotel industry statewide sells in excess of 64 million room nights annually, generating over $4.5 billion in revenue, with more than 3,300 lodging facilities in Texas hosting more than 177 million travelers a year. More than 89,000 people in the state are employed in hotels.
An entry-level employee in the hotel industry is more likely to be promoted to a management position than an entry-level employee in just about any other corporate sector.
Also see HEAT’s breakdown of specific jobs in the Texas hospitality industry with their employment projections through 2010 (PDF - 44KB).
Job Locations
People in the hospitality industry work nationally and internationally for:
- Bars and drinking establishments
- Cafés and bistros
- Casinos
- Catering businesses
- Country clubs
- Cruise lines, railways or airlines
- Golf and sports clubs
- Hotels and motels
- Institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes
- Public and private schools, from elementary to university level
- Resorts
- Restaurants
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Job Titles and Descriptions
America’s Career Infonet and the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-09 edition) give detailed information about the skills, abilities, work activities and recommended education for jobs in the hospitality field, which may include:
According to America’s Career Infonet job statistics for 2006, some occupations in the hospitality field offered the following salaries, on average, across the nation:
| Job |
Hourly rate |
Annual Salary |
Projected Growth Through 2014 |
| Chefs and head cooks |
$15.54 |
$32,300 |
+17% |
| Food service managers |
$20.68 |
$43,000 |
+5% |
| Hotel, motel and resort desk clerks |
$8.88 |
$18,500 |
+17% |
| Human resources managers |
$42.55 |
$88,500 |
+11% |
| Lodging managers |
$20.35 |
$42,300 |
+12% |
| Lodging managers (top 10 percent) |
$39.67 |
$82,500 |
+12% |
Required Skills and Working Conditions
Though there are many job descriptions within the hospitality industry, there are certain characteristics and skills that will help you succeed in almost any of them. You need to
- have a cooperative work ethic
- enjoy working with all kinds of people
- be skilled at solving problems
- practice good communication skills
- exhibit critical thinking capabilities on a short timeline
- have an understanding of psychology that will allow you to understand why people react as they do — especially in stressful situations
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Effective oral and written communication in English is fundamental, and today it is considered a bonus to be able to speak one or more additional languages, particularly Spanish in Texas. In managerial roles, hiring and retaining employees is a major challenge, so effective, clear and conciliatory communication skills are essential. Managers should also be calm, flexible and able to work through weather or situational emergencies that might compromise guests’ and employees’ safety.
Most people employed in the hospitality industry are on their feet for long periods of time and often work evenings, weekends and holidays. Positive aspects are that no day is ever the same, and you will enjoy a unique sense of camaraderie among staff who work together to provide their guests with an enjoyable experience in lodging, dining or recreation.