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Business & Economics

Hospitality & Tourism Management

Running the businesses behind travel, hotels, and events.

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Content last reviewed: August 2026

Hospitality and tourism management studies the operations and business side of hotels, restaurants, travel companies, and event venues, covering service operations, revenue management, and guest experience design. It's a hands-on, service-oriented business major.

Many programs require internships or practicum hours in actual hospitality settings, and coursework often includes operations simulations for running a hotel, restaurant, or event from the ground up.

Typical courses you might take

  • Introduction to Hospitality Management
  • Hotel & Lodging Operations
  • Food & Beverage Management
  • Event Planning & Management
  • Hospitality Marketing
  • Revenue Management
  • Service Operations Management
  • Hospitality Law

Sample four-year plan

Illustrative, not a registration plan

One possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.

Year 1 · Fall
  • Introduction to Hospitality Management
  • +General education requirement
Year 1 · Spring
  • Hotel & Lodging Operations
  • +General education requirement
Year 2 · Fall
  • Food & Beverage Management
  • +General education requirement
Year 2 · Spring
  • Event Planning & Management
  • +Free elective
Year 3 · Fall
  • Hospitality Marketing
  • +Free elective
Year 3 · Spring
  • Revenue Management
  • +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
Year 4 · Fall
  • Service Operations Management
  • +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
Year 4 · Spring
  • Hospitality Law
  • +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)

Skills you'll build

Service operations managementCustomer experience designEvent and hospitality logisticsRevenue and pricing strategyTeam leadership in service settingsProblem-solving under time pressureCross-cultural guest service
Explore more majors that build these skills →

This major might be a good fit if you...

  • Enjoys working with people and delivering great experiences
  • Comfortable in fast-paced, service-oriented environments
  • Interested in hotels, events, restaurants, or travel
  • Practical, hands-on learner who likes applied business skills

Common minors & double-major pairings

Marketing · Business Administration · Foreign Language

Frequently asked questions

What is a Hospitality & Tourism Management major?

Running the businesses behind travel, hotels, and events.

What courses do Hospitality & Tourism Management majors take?

Typical coursework includes classes like Introduction to Hospitality Management, Hotel & Lodging Operations, Food & Beverage Management, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.

What skills do you build in a Hospitality & Tourism Management program?

Hospitality & Tourism Management coursework typically builds skills like Service operations management, Customer experience design, Event and hospitality logistics, Revenue and pricing strategy.

Is Hospitality & Tourism Management a good major for me?

It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Enjoys working with people and delivering great experiences" or "Comfortable in fast-paced, service-oriented environments" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.

What other majors pair well with Hospitality & Tourism Management?

Common minor or double-major pairings include Marketing, Business Administration, Foreign Language.

How is Hospitality & Tourism Management different from Business Administration?

They're related but distinct. Hospitality & Tourism Management: Running the businesses behind travel, hotels, and events. Business Administration: A broad foundation across management, finance, marketing, and operations. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.

How long does it take to earn a Hospitality & Tourism Management degree?

Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.

This overview describes what the field of study typically covers. It's not a guarantee of course availability, job placement, or earnings, program details vary by school. See our disclaimer.

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