Is a Career in Hospitality and Tourism in Your Future?

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) travel and tourism accounts for 1 of every 10 jobs of the world’s jobs and has the highest potential for growth of any industry. That means there’s plenty of opportunities to cultivate existing careers in the industry or create a new career in this ever-growing industry.

Hospitality and tourism represents a broad range of career prospects in industries that include: hotels and resorts, restaurants and commercial food service, meeting and event planning, tourism destinations and attractions, leisure, recreation and sports management, airlines, cruises and other transportation, environmentally sustainable and cultural tourism development, and spa and wellness management to name a few.

As a vast, dynamic and flourishing industry, hospitality and tourism provides tremendous opportunity for the ambitious - who enjoy working with people. The hospitality and tourism industry operates in a highly competitive environment. It is important that those seeking careers as successful professionals develop a strong business foundation and customer service skills.

While hospitality and tourism has traditionally been an industry that emphasized on hands-on experience, the competitive nature of the business now requires a combination of experience and higher education to build a successful management career. To meet the needs of the industry, hospitality and tourism programs offered by colleges and universities have grown rapidly across the world – and here, in the Cayman Islands too. Today programs are offered by a variety of vocational schools, community colleges and both public and private universities. Options range from short-term skills-oriented certificates to post-graduate degree programs.

Locally, The School of Hospitality Studies (SHS), a joint venture between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Education, University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), and industry partners offers a one-year Hospitality Studies certificate program with a concentration on front office operations, food and beverage service, food preparation, and housekeeping operations. Certificate completion may also provide qualification for entry into UCCI’s Associate of Applied Science -Hospitality Management Program. A Bachelor of Science in Social Science with a Concentration in Tourism Management is also available. The International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI) also offers an Associate of Science Program with a Hotel and Tourism Management Concentration. Whether you are looking for a career change or you are simply considering your future career options, maybe check out one of the programs for some inspiration!

The world is comprised of different cultures, different backgrounds, different expectations and different attitudes – and those who choose to pursue a future in the industry have to be open-minded, welcoming and armed with a strong repertoire of skills. But most importantly, if you possess a strong desire to provide excellent service and overall experiences to others this fast-paced, yet extremely rewarding industry may be for you.

Brooke Meyer is the managing partner of Caymera International, a Caymanian-owned hospitality and tourism consulting and advisory firm. Visit Caymera at www.caymeragroup.com or email info@caymeragroup.com for more information.