Career Opportunities Abound

Hospitality and tourism are umbrella terms for a wide range of commercial activities. For example, the hospitality industry consists of individuals who provide customer service, supervise those who provide customer service, or manage facilities in sectors such as lodging, food service such as restaurants, planes, cruise ships, or city or country clubs. The tourism industry “support[s] a traveler’s need for transportation, food, lodging, amusement, and entertainment” (Zabel, p. 168), while also overlapping with recreation. It involves tour operators, rental cars, hotels, bars, gasoline stations, theme parks, attractions, and more. Given the size of these industries, it is natural that the skill sets are transferable.

Although the terms hospitality and tourism are often used interchangeably, they are not quite synonymous. The tourism industry serves travelers, people away from home. In contrast, the hospitality industry also includes businesses (such as restaurants) that serve people in their local town. (Zabel, p. 168).

There are numerous career opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sectors outside the mainstream ideas of lodging and restaurants. This chapter delves into examples of where career paths can be forged.