The hotel industry has various jobs on offer, from reception and housekeeping positions right the way up to senior management roles. Some of the jobs within a hotel require very specific skills and knowledge, and a hotel course can help with this. Read on to learn all about the various hotel courses on offer.

Table of Contents:

The Hotel Industry Explained!

The hotel industry forms part of the wider service industry and focuses on guest accommodation and related services. Despite its name, most definitions do not only include hotels, but also other similar forms of accommodation, such as motels, resorts, guest houses, inns, bed and breakfasts, and hostels.

The hotel industry does not include permanent housing and other forms of long-term shelter. A hotel course, meanwhile, is an educational course that provides relevant information and teaches relevant skills.

To learn more, check out the “Hotel Industry: Everything You Need to Know About Hotels!” article.

What is Hotel Management?

Hotel management describes the various managerial activities that go into running a hotel. This includes a broad range of responsibilities, from hotel administration, marketing, revenue management, and delegation of tasks, to training, coaching, and more. Many hotel managers will first complete a hotel management course.

Suppose you are seeking more information about hotel management, including the requirements for the role. Why not take a look at our “Hotel Management: Everything You Need to Know About Managing a Hotel” post?

Interested in a Hotel Course? What Skills Do You Need to Work in a Hotel?

If you are contemplating enrolling in a hotel course, you may want to consider whether or not you have the required skill set. In any hotel role, time management and teamwork skills will be important. Hotels can also be high-pressure environments, so you must be able to cope with that.

The hotel industry is geared towards customer satisfaction, so existing customer service skills are hugely beneficial, and good interpersonal skills will be a firm requirement. The best hotel course candidates will have excellent communication, flexibility, problem-solving, and a strong work ethic.

What is the Length of a Hotel Course?

Hotel courses come in various forms, meaning it is impossible to give a single answer to how long it will take to complete one. Some certificates may be obtainable in weeks, whereas a bachelor’s degree will take at least three years and might take significantly longer if you opt to study part-time.

A master’s course will typically take either one or two years, again depending on how you choose to study. There may also be differences depending on whether you learn online or offline at a more traditional school, college or university. The various online courses on offer could take a few short weeks or span a period of several years.

Hotel Courses: Examples of Different Types & Topics

The good news for anyone interested in a hotel course is there are plenty of options out there. In the following sections, you can learn about some of the main course types or module topics educators teach.

Strategic Hotel Management Course

A strategic hotel management course will help teach the skills that managers need to possess to succeed in their roles. This will include techniques for planning, setting objectives, implementing new initiatives, and making the most effective possible use of technology.

When managers utilize a strategic approach, they utilize evidence-based decision-making and can achieve better financial results. In hotels, this means more guests, more revenue, and a better reputation.

Hotel Management Operations Course

Meanwhile, a hotel management operations course will focus on some of the more conventional daily tasks a manager may need to carry out. Topics in this course may include customer service, hotel housekeeping, financial management, sales operations, and marketing activities.

A hotel course of this kind is often taken before becoming a hotel manager, but even experienced hotel managers may want to take the course of an operation to brush up on best practices or to learn new ideas.

Hotel Course: Food & Beverage

Food and beverages are a major source of income for most hotels, and it is important to try to optimize performance in this area. A hotel course centered on food and beverages will teach relevant skills, such as food preparation, food hygiene, food and beverage management, and more.

Courses of this variety can open up job opportunities in hotel restaurants or hotel catering services. The skills learned may also be useful for managers and other senior hotel workers.

Hotel Finance Course

Any successful hotel will benefit from strong financial management, and a hotel course focused on finance will teach the kinds of skills that can help. Along the way, you will learn how to optimize revenue, identify areas of financial waste, minimize unnecessary outgoings, and achieve better overall financial results.

Some specific topics that a good hotel finance course may cover might include revenue management, financial reporting, cash flow analysis, budgeting, and risk management.

Hotel Marketing Course

Hotel marketing courses will prioritize the development of skills related to advertising and promoting hotel products and services. Topics might include online advertising, social media marketing, traditional advertising, reputation management, etc. The aim of hotel marketing efforts is usually to attract more guests.

You can read the “Hotel Marketing Courses: What Will You Learn? + List of Educators” article to learn more about hotel courses of this kind, what they can teach you, and where you should look for them.

Revenue Management Course

Hotel courses specializing in revenue management will cover what revenue management is and how it can be applied to hotels. In addition, there will be a focus on key performance indicators you will need to track, along with strategies and techniques for optimizing financial results.

Check out the “Hotel Revenue Management Courses: Information + List of Educators” article if you want to learn more about revenue management, the courses available and the educators delivering these courses.

Explore the Full List of Hotel Course Topics

While the courses and module topics mentioned are among the most common and important, there are also various other options. These include courses that focus on areas like distribution, asset management, hotel economics, and effective social media usage, and these courses can all open up new career paths.

You can explore a more comprehensive list of hotel course topics and find descriptions of what they entail by reading our “Hotel Management Course: List of The Most Popular Courses” article.

A list of Popular Online Hotel Course Educators

When exploring the various options for hotel courses, you may also need to look into the different educators that offer these courses. You can find more information about some of these below:

Hotel Courses From HSMAI

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is an organization that aims to assist with the growth of the hotel and hospitality industry. Through its HSMAI University and HSMAI Academy, it provides a range of hotel courses, which can help you to develop important industry-specific skills.

Click here for an overview of all online hotel courses from HSMAI

Hotel Certificates From eCornell

The eCornell platform was established in 2000 as a distance learning service associated with Cornell University, one of the top universities in the United States. It provides online courses in several subject areas linked to hospitality, marketing, and management, including several useful hotel courses that provide certificates.

Click here for an overview of all online hotel courses from eCornell

Hotel Courses From EHL

The EHL Foundation operates its own professional development platform for the hotel and hospitality industries, offering several hotel courses that can be completed online and certificates for completion. Topics include hotel development, hotel revenue management, restaurant management, customer service, etc.

Click here for an overview of all online hotel courses from EHL

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Course From IHS

The International Hotel School (IHS) is dedicated to offering hotel courses and provides both full-time programs and online learning options. Examples of relevant courses include hospitality management, food and beverage management, food operations, housekeeping operations, and front office operations.

Click here for an overview of all online hotel courses from IHS

Websites to Find Hotel Courses From Different Educators

When searching for hotel courses, visiting the websites of different educators is not always the most efficient approach. In this section, you can find some websites that allow you to search for courses online.

Search Hotel Courses on Educations.com

Educations.com is a platform that can connect to schools and universities worldwide. The main search engine allows you to select your preferred location to study, search for the topic you are interested in learning about, and then find a relevant course. Bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, foundation programs, and diplomas are included.

Click here to find a hotel course on Educations.com

Search Hotel Courses on Study.com

Study.com was first launched in 2002 and provided access to various hotel courses. Many of these are structured in shorter lessons, and they can even allow you to earn college credit. In addition to using the platform to search for courses, you can also search for individual lessons on more specific topics.

Click here to find a hotel course on Study.com

Search Hotel Courses on Udemy

Udemy provides massive open online courses (MOOC) at affordable prices. Some of the hotel courses on offer that may be relevant to a job in the industry include hotel management fundamentals, hotel marketing strategies, hotel cleaning, hotel front desk operations, and leadership skills for a hotel manager.

Click here to find a hotel course on Udemy

Search Hotel Courses on OnlineStudies.com

OnlineStudies.com allows users to search for hotel courses via a search engine that accesses thousands of study programs from some of the top institutions. These courses are taken from schools in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and include bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, diplomas, and more.

Click here to find a hotel course on OnlineStudies.com

Search Hotel Courses on Coursera

Coursera is one of the world’s top online learning platforms, providing a wide range of programs, including several useful hotel courses. Many of these courses offer certificates upon completion and are designed and delivered by some of the best universities globally.

Click here to find a hotel course on Coursera

More Educators Who Offer Hotel Courses

Aside from those mentioned, many more educators are able to offer the kinds of hotel courses that can help to advance your career. You can find a list of these educators below.

The Ultimate List of Hotel Schools

Hotel schools are academic institutions that are solely dedicated to the delivery of hotel courses and other courses that are relevant within the industry. You may attend a hotel school in person or study an online course offered by one to develop your own abilities and earn greater recognition for your skills.

Thankfully, there are hotel schools worldwide, so you will find options no matter where you want to study and work. Read “Hotel Schools: Global List of Hotel Management Schools” for more.

Finished Your Hotel Course? Tips to Find Your Dream Job in the Hotel Industry

After reaching the end of your hotel course, you will want to try to find your ideal role within the hotel industry. In this section, you can find useful information and tips to help you.

An Overview of All Hotel Positions

The first step is identifying the role you want. Depending on the hotel course you studied, there may be an obvious and natural career path, but some courses are quite general and will open many different doors. For this reason, it is useful to understand the different positions that exist.

Check out the “Hotel Positions: Overview of All Positions Within a Hotel” article for a breakdown of the main job roles, complete with important information on what each position will entail.

Tips to Successfully Apply for a Hotel Industry Job

Next, you will need to think about actually applying for suitable jobs. This will involve creating the best possible CV, using the right platforms to find and apply for vacancies, using social media and other tools effectively, doing the right amount of research into employers, and working on your interview technique.

You can read “Hotel Careers: 10 Valuable Tips to Manage Your Hotel Career” for more on moving beyond your hotel course, progressing toward the application phase, and taking steps to maximize your chances.

A List of The Best Hotel Job Boards

Following your hotel course, finding the right jobs to apply for can be a challenge, especially if you are unsure about where to look. Fortunately, industry job boards provide a good solution, serving as a single location to search through the vacancies advertised by many employers.

Check out our article, “Hotel Jobs: The Best Hotel Job Boards to Boost Your Career” to access a list of some of the specific job boards that cater to the hotel industry and employers within it.

Done With Your Hotel Course? An Overview of Channels to Find a Hospitality Job

It is worth bearing in mind that there are other useful channels to turn to besides job boards. These include recruitment agency websites, the websites of employers in the industry, and social media platforms. It is usually recommended that you use several different channels so that you find a greater number of vacancies.

Read “Hotel Management Jobs: List of the Most Important Channels for Finding Hotel Management Jobs” for a more in-depth look at the various channels available and how they can help you with your job search.

Video: A Day in the Hotel

 

List of Popular Hotel Chains to Find a Job

Some people like to take the time to research different hotel chains and focus on finding work for a particular company. Meanwhile, visiting company websites can help you find positions that may not have been advertised on third-party platforms like job boards, expanding the options available after finishing your hotel course.

Explore “Hotel Vacancies: List of Hotel Chains to Search for Hotel Vacancies” for a list of some of the world’s biggest and best hotel chains so that you can target your job search efforts more effectively.

Tips to Find a Job as a Hotel Manager

If you already have significant experience within the hotel industry and have completed a relevant hotel course, you may be looking to find work as a hotel manager. This role requires specific skills and qualities, while some employers will expect you to have relevant qualifications too.

Read the “Tips to Find Your Next Hotel Manager Job!” article for some useful advice on preparing for a management position in the hotel industry and how to find one.

A good hotel course can help you to develop the necessary skills to enjoy a long and successful career within the hotel or hospitality industry. Regardless of which aspect of the industry you would like to specialize in, there are courses on offer, and the list of educators and websites provided should help you to find them.

More Tips to Grow Your Business

Revfine.com is a knowledge platform for the hospitality & travel industry. Professionals use our insights, strategies and actionable tips to get inspired, optimise revenue, innovate processes and improve customer experience. You can find all hotel & hospitality tips in the categories Revenue Management, Marketing & Distribution, Hotel Operations, Staffing & Career, Technology and Software.

Submit an Article

This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.