Hospitality Careers, Jobs, & Salaries

Millions of visitors venture to Vancouver every year. Upon arrival, visitors discover what natives have known about for years: the endless recreational and cultural amenities the city affords.

In addition to hundreds of fabulous restaurants and clubs, Vancouver boasts more than 200 parks, premiere museums, miles of beaches, impressive mountain ranges, the Vancouver Canucks hockey team, Granville Island Market, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Punjabi Market area, Chinatown, and nearby Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort.

Since tourism is one of Vancouver's leading industries, hospitality mangers, restaurant managers, and event planners are critical to helping the industry function and function well.

Careers

A variety of careers in hospitality are available in 5-star restaurants, Alaskan cruise ships, coastal inns, luxury resorts, and conference facilities.

These include:

Hotel Management
Hotel managers make management decisions about the hotels they run, including who to hire, rates to charge, and how to settle disputes. Depending on the hotel and the size of its staff, hotel managers may either perform or direct housekeeping, personnel, office administration, marketing and sales, purchasing, security, maintenance, oversight of recreation facilities, and other activities.

Hotel management degree programs are generally considered good preparation for this career, since they cover both business and management concepts, and issues related specifically to tourism and accommodations.

Restaurant Management
Restaurant managersrun restaurants, cafeterias, and other eateries. They oversee food purchases, menu creation, food preparation and service, employees, costs, and many other things. Sometimes chefs with experience and money open and manage their own restaurants; business owners with other experience may do the same thing.

Restaurant management degree programs can help you prepare for this field and gain hands-on experience.

Event Planners
Event planners responsibilities includes budgeting, establishing dates and alternate dates, selecting and reserving the event site, acquiring permits, and coordinating transportation and parking.

Other Related Career Fields:

• Banquet Manager
• Bar Manager
• Casino Manager
• Chef
• Front Office Manager
• Reservation Manager

Training

Degrees in hospitality management may also be referred to as hotel management, hotel and tourism management, or hotel administration, and come in all shapes and sizes: certificates, diplomas, and bachelor's degrees.

Employers look for candidates with knowledge and skills in several areas including: information technology, human resources, organizational behavior, multiculturalism, and leadership. In today's competitive market, it's important to seek out a degree program that fosters development in each of these areas.

Community colleges, junior colleges, and many universities in Vancouver offer certificate or degree programs in hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management.

Areas of study may include:

• Accounting
• Administration
• Finance
• Information Systems
• Marketing
• Human Resources Management

When making a decision about a specific degree program to pursue, consider your desired specialty, such as restaurant management, hotel management, tourism, marketing, or special events, and then look for programs that have particular strengths or available concentrations in that particular area.

Another very important part of a hospitality education is hands-on experience. Many schools offer internship opportunities for students to gain relevant work experience in local restaurants, hotels, and convention centers. Some schools have on-campus facilities that serve as learning centers for hospitality students.

This hands-on experience can give you an edge in the job market. Check with the school you're considering to learn more about their internship and work-study programs.

Popular Schools in Vancouver

• The Art Institute of Vancouver
  Degree programs in hospitality and restaurant business management, food and beverage management, and the culinary arts.
• Vancouver Premier College
  Diplomas and certificates in hospitality management.
• Imperial Hotel Management College
  Diplomas in Executive Hotel Management and International Hotel Management

Request information form other business and hospitality schools in Vancouver.