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Black Collegian Career Center
The Hospitality Industry
by Flora Gailliard
In an increasingly competitive employment arena,
African Americans must prepare for and secure strong, definite jobs which
lead them to long-term realistic career options and opportunities.
One of the fastest growing sectors of the economy of our time is the
hospitality industry. The hospitality industry alone is a multi-billion
dollar and growing enterprise. It is exciting, never boring and offers
unlimited opportunities. The hospitality industry is diverse enough for
people to work in different areas of interest and still be employed within
the hospitality industry. Think about this: It makes sense to prepare for
a job in which you have numerous opportunities for advancement, because
it is an economic advantage for you in the long run.
The hospitality industry pays those well who have prepared well.
Hospitality management involves the planning, organizing, directing
and controlling of human and material resources within the lodging, restaurant,
travel and tourism, institutional management, recreational management and
meeting and convention planning industries. All of these separate yet related
segments of the hospitality industry are interrelated to deliver kind and
generous services to guests.
The hospitality industry is one of the oldest businesses in history.
People have always gone out to eat sometimes and traveled for work or leisure
purposes. However, the face of the hospitality industry has changed drastically.
Brenda Scott, president and CEO of the Mobile, Ala., Convention and Visitors
Corporation, agrees and says; demographically the world is changing. By
the year 2000, 45- 50 percent of the workforce and consumers will be non-white.
Not only has the industry expanded to include areas such as tourism and
meeting and convention planning, but also the face of the workforce in
substantial positions has expanded to include all races and colors. The
explosion of growth in the hospitality industry demands highly qualified
people trained in hospitality management to fill rapidly opening positions.
Although African Americans have had a wealth of experience in hospitality,
it has not always been positive. In the past African Americans have usually
performed in low-level managerial positions in hospitality operations holding
positions from the lowest realm in service to now having the realistic
opportunity of becoming general managers.
The present hospitality industry is extraordinarily healthy and viable
and as a result offers excellent opportunities for African Americans in
each of the segments; restaurant management, lodging management, recreational
management, travel and tourism, meeting and convention planning and institutional
management. Scott announces good news: the opportunities are there. The
globalization of the hospitality industry creates the availability of jobs
in virtually every city in the world. Ed Moore, Jr., regional recruiter
for Applebee's International says the restaurant industry is a wonderful
field to be in, especially in the 90s. He further states, oftentimes young
adults think of flipping burgers when they think of the business. That
is not all there is to it. There are positions in middle management as
well as the corporate office. We are talking about jobs that range from
$26,000 to $100,000 plus. In the growing field of hospitality, it is projected
that by the year 2000 an additional two million people will fill new jobs
in the industry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in the next
decade nine out of ten new jobs created will be in the service industry.
Through the year 2000, positions for hotel managers are expected to grow
faster than the average for all occupations, as reported in the Occupational
Outlook Handbook, a publication of the U.S. Department of Labor. It is
estimated by Kelley Notes that by the turn of the century the lodging industry
will create over 500,000 additional entry-level positions. Kelley Notes
also estimates in less than a decade, travel and tourism will become the
nation's number one employer with one of every five Americans working in
some segment of the hospitality industry.
African Americans do well to actively prepare themselves and aggressively
seek employment in the hospitality industry. They should especially investigate
opportunities in meeting and convention planning, and travel and tourism.
These two areas are hot spots of the industry and presently offer outstanding
opportunities for prepared students.
To help African Americans prepare for a successful hospitality career,
completing a college degree in hospitality management and/or related area
is a great beginning. Phillip Cunningham, general manager of the Tuskegee
University Kellogg Conference Center, believes that success for African
Americans in the hospitality industry means being flexible in business
and in personal life, understanding the true meaning of customer and employee
service, and knowing the job that you are asking others to perform. In
addition says Cunningham, with the onslaught of public held hotel companies,
today's industry professional must understand how to make a profit. Having
great customer skills no longer promotes you to the top. A degree in hospitality
management with a strong emphasis in business administration strengthens
your preparation for the industry. In additional to classroom preparation,
junior and senior students especially should seek hands-on opportunities
such as internships, shadowing experiences and mentoring relationships.
Internships are very beneficial to students in that they provide immediate
access to the real work world and also are the time for students to make
mistakes as they learn. These experiences also provide the graduate with
a strong level of preparedness for entry-level positions.
Moore contends that students must be prepared and learn as much as possible
while still in school. He feels that their education should give them a
good solid background before they seek employment in the industry. For
those who have properly prepared themselves, entry-level positions may
include but are not limited to manager trainee internships, unit manager,
food and beverage director, operations manager, sales and marketing, human
resources, front office supervisor, executive housekeeper, director of
housekeeping, controller, conference manager, rooms divisions manager,
travel consultant, meeting planner, events planner, and the assistant manager
position in all segments of the industry, etc. In planning and preparing
for a successful career in hospitality, take advantage of in-house management
training programs and seek mentors which will increase the potential of
a steady and timely progression in hospitality. Students obtaining degrees
in hospitality are prepared to seek employment in hotels, restaurants,
travel and tourism destinations, convention and visitors bureaus, health
care facilities, airlines, recreational facilities, and management/contract
services, etc.
Successful African Americans in hospitality recognize their role and
the importance of mentoring incoming students interested in hospitality
management. According to Phillip Cunningham, historically African Americans
have not achieved the same level of success in the industry, due to the
lack of corporate mentors. It is extremely important to identify people
who can help you achieve your goals. Often this means the mentor takes
on additional responsibilities without being paid, works more than 50 hours
a week, and moves from city to city. Scott agrees that mentoring as well
as helping to place students is a responsibility that all successful role
models in the industry should take on. She further charges herself as
well as fellow colleagues to, assist students' progression in the industry
by making opportunities available and by developing outreach programs to
disseminate information to students and professionals.
Although competition is tough, well-prepared students can expect steady
opportunities for advancement. However, explains Scott, students can compete
by participating in internships and working any and every job available
in the industry. She also says, if students are to progress upward to
managerial level positions, they need practical experience and must have
a positive attitude. Overall she feels the most important thing a student
can do to be successful is, plan and prepare, have a willingness to work,
and be passionate about your career. The industry is very demanding but
rewarding and appreciates those who have paid their dues so to speak.
Hospitality companies are looking for confident, well-adjusted individuals
with good communication and interviewing skills. In his role as a regional
recruiter, Ed Moore, Jr. states, verbal skills are of concern and that
students should learn how to articulate well. However, he continues, one
of the glaring areas of concern that I have noticed is students are not
ready for the interview. This is something that you will need to practice
with an experienced person or professional.
Recognizing a shortage of African Americans in key positions in the
industry, African- American college graduates are zealously sought and
offered substantial positions. To help the industry achieve its goals,
many historically Black colleges and universities serve as clearing houses
for qualified African-American graduates in hospitality management. This
affords colleges and universities the opportunity to maintain ongoing relationships
with industry personnel as well as receive constant feedback on the expectations
of industry regarding entering employees.
Interested in a career in hospitality management? Where do you go from
here? First, complete your college degree in hospitality management and/or
related major. Work whenever and wherever possible in any segment of the
hospitality industry, be flexible, find a dedicated and concerned mentor
in the segment of the industry which interests you most, and talk to successful
African Americans in the industry, organizations, and who are in positions
of leadership in the field of hospitality management.
The following organizations listed focus primarily on the needs and
concerns of African Americans and other people of color in the industry,
as well as serve as a clearinghouse for information and opportunities for
students, faculty and the industry.
Preparation inside and outside of the classroom is vital to a progressive
and successful career path in the hospitality industry. The opportunities
are great, advancement is realistic, and success is attainable.
Consulting Organizations
HPBCU-Hospitality Management Consortium
Flora M. Gailliard, President
Coordinator, Hospitality Management Program
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Al 36088
(334) 727-8396/(334) 727-8116
National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP)
John Crump, Chairman
8630 Fenton Street-Suite 126
Silver Springs, Maryland
(202) 628-3952
National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH)
Cornell University
Hospitality Department
Statler Hall, Room G70
Ithaca, NY 14853
Attn: Corey Samuel
Southern Regional Chairperson
(404) 355-0305
Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE)
1200 17th Street, N.W
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 331-5990
American Hotel and Motel Association (AHMA)
1201 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 2005-3931
(202) 289-3100
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