Salary Range: $8.00 - $12.00 per hour to start.

Personal Interests: Communicating with others, working with people, and dealing with the public.

Environment: Indoors at lodging organizations, food and beverage establishments, event venues, hospitals, banquets, resorts and spas

The Hospitality Industry Hospitality organizations continue to demand qualified, knowledgeable employees who are ready to excel in the world of hospitality. Hospitality jobs have attained a much higher status in society and demand higher standards of work from its employees. In addition to knowledge and experience, one of the most important things that an employer looks for are personal qualities, which include a keen attitude, a friendly disposition, neat appearance, personal hygiene, a willingness to work, and honesty, among others.

Working Conditions: Hotels are open around the clock, so flexible schedules, night and weekend work is common. Employees must be able to deal with hotel patrons, and assist guests.

Training, Other Qualifications: Often managers are promoted from the ranks of front desk clerks, housekeepers, waiters and chefs, and hotel sales workers in hospitality. And although some employees still advance to hotel management positions without education beyond high school, additional training is preferred. Career advancement can be accelerated by completion of certification programs. These programs usually require a combination of course work, examinations, and experience.

Job Outlook: According to projections from local employers, the availability of full-time positions each year in hotel and lodging, catering, conference and event venues, hospitals, retail, food and beverage and resorts and spas continues to grow. KVCC’s Hospitality Academy provides participants with the training, credentials, and contacts they need to move into a high-growth job in hospitality. A career in hospitality offers strong benefits, competitive compensation, promotion from within, a wealth of careers, and a respect for diversity.

Earnings: National median annual earnings of hotel managers and assistants were $26,700 in 1998. The middle 50 percent of these workers earned between $19,820 and $34,690. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $14,430, while the top 10 percent earned over $45,520. In 1997, median annual earnings in the hotel and other lodging places industry, where nearly all of these workers are employed, were $28,600.

Related Occupations: Other occupations concerned with organizing and directing a business where customer service is the cornerstone of their success, include restaurant managers, apartment building employees, retail store associates, and office personnel.