Over $570 billion was invested in the hospitality industry prior to COVID-19 hitting, and almost 10% of the world's working population was employed by it. Experts believe the industry will bounce back to pre-pandemic levels as soon as 2023, despite the unprecedented challenges of the last year and a half. There hasn't been a setback in the industry for a long time. In the five months following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, US tourism revenues dropped sharply. A full recovery was made within 12 months of the 2008 recession. Despite the need to innovate, develop, evolve, and adapt to meet the needs of 'a new normal,' the hospitality industry will recover - and may even emerge stronger than before.
However, many misconceptions surround this industry, from its job roles to its importance to its future. Ultimately, we should eliminate the top 6 misconceptions.
The industry's responsibilities, economic value, and future are discussed in this analysis of the 6 most common myths.
1. Hospitality refers to working in a hospital
Hospitals and hospitality may sound very similar, but they are very different. A hospital provides a patient with a bed and a warm meal, thus it is a form of hospitality. Nevertheless, a patient's stay in a hospital is a form of 'enforced hospitality' - it's not their choice. The hospitality industry caters to people that actively choose the places they want to go. Despite this, hospitality skills are well suited for the healthcare sector, as the same processes and skills apply. In hospitals and hotels alike, patients want a welcoming smile so that they feel comfortable.
2. Hospitality is dominated by women
When it comes to gender balance, the hospitality industry is more or less equal, but far from being gender equal. Nearly half of the hospitality workforce is female, according to HotelManagement.net. In hospitality, most women are employed in lower-skilled and, as a result, lower-paid jobs than their male counterparts. There are only 25% of women in leadership positions within the hospitality industry, based on a recent study. Even if it appears that there are more women working in the hospitality sector - they're the ones who It is actually just as common to find male employees in restaurants, room service, or airlines.
3. Hospitality employees work irregular and long hours
We work 365 days a year in the hospitality industry. It is technically impossible to take a day off. Yes, it's likely that you will work early starts, late finishes, weekends, and even missed holidays if you work in most customer-facing positions. However, there are other jobs in hospitality that allow for a better work-life balance, such as back-of-house, managerial, and administrative functions, such as marketing, purchasing, and finance. If that isn't an option for you, you may also choose to work part-time, which can also provide more flexibility and a better work-life balance.
4. Hospitality workers are poorly educated
Training and preparation are vital to success in this industry. Those with minimal training can work as waiters, bellhops, housekeepers, or laundry attendants. You will need a college degree to pursue careers such as management in a hotel or food and beverage business, as well as in other branches of the industry, such as events and entertainment. To own and operate a successful hospitality business, an entrepreneur must also have strong business acumen. Specialized hotel management programs are available that provide instruction on all aspects of hotel management - from business and marketing to procurement, revenue management, and hands-on experience.
5. Working in hospitality is not well paid
This is sometimes true, but not always. Despite lower average salaries in the hospitality industry, this is largely because entry-level jobs are so much lower than executive management roles. In addition, hospitality companies hire a lot of part-time workers, interns, and workers from underdeveloped or developing countries for entry-level jobs, which can cause the average salary to skew downward. Although you can live comfortably in mid-management and executive-level jobs, salaries are very competitive. You can gain the experience you need for a successful career in hospitality management with a bachelor's degree.
6. Hotel management involves the handling of errands
While it is true you will have to take orders, deliver food, wash dishes, clean rooms and run errands in many hospitality jobs. That's the essence of hospitality. In the event that you do not wish to carry out those hands-on operational tasks, there are several other employment opportunities. Management jobs, such as revenue management, marketing, sales, R&D, consulting, event planning, or even creative roles such as hotel design or menu development don't require doing chores or catering to guests. In this industry, there is something for everyone.
So, these were some usually heard myths about the hotel and hospitality industry. Check out some similar blogs on our website to know more.