Talk to people who work in the field. The hours are really rough and the pay is low. It’s not just working holidays, it’s overnights and a tough work environment.

Has your daughter actually worked in a hotel? I would encourage her to try it if not. Hospitality requires some soft skills and personality traits that aren't going to be taught in any program. Is she extroverted? Can she shrug off rude, demanding people? Is she high energy? Does she mind working hours that others may be off?

University of New Hampshire has majors in these areas.

Johnson & Wales

I was part of the opening of major hotel franchise in Times Square (1983). Applied and hired before it opened. Worked full time as front desk clerk while also attending college full time. School 8-1, hotel shift 3-11. Not easy. Promoted to supervisor within 18 months. Salary 40k with unlimited potential and this was over 30 years ago! Got my degree and quit for delusional dream of becoming a sports broadcaster (I’m a woman). In the end, had a successful career unrelated to my major. Yet, I regret not staying in hotel mgmt field. Offered position to open a new hotel (Marco Island). If I had accepted, would have been GM and ultimately top corporate position, at a very young age. Probably would have opened a small boutique hotel. The hotel that I started with is still a top chain worldwide. Very generous company with incredible benefits and perks, then and now. It’s an excellent career path though more competitive now. Business mgmt/ entrepreneur/finance degree in tandem with hospitality mgmt, would cast a wider net of opportunity. As I understand, it’s still a work your way up and must work every department successfully (yup this includes housekeeping, bell staff, concierge, rooms control etc) to reach GM goal.

Anonymous wrote:The thing about hospitality is that many of the jobs have hours that are the "off hours" for office jobs.... i.e. weekend and nights and holidays ... especially holidays. It's probably not such a problem if your DD works in the same area where her relatives live... b/c then she could still catch up with the family for a little holiday time. But, it wouldn't be very conducive to a person who lives further away and wants to see their family at holidays.

I'm not going to discourage my daughter's dreams because it will inconvenience Christmas dinner.

(I would prefer not to send her to Switzerland but her ultimate goal is international so that ship may have sailed.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you actually make a decent living with this degree as a kid starting out in the industry.

Ever hear of the Marriotts?

Yes, and I'm fairly certain that new graduates will not be making as much as the Marriott family does each year. What is the starting salary at Marriott or Hilton for a new graduate?
I know several people working for hotel chains and none of them have a hospitality/hotel management degree. Most have MBA's with undergraduate business, finance or marketing degrees.

The point was that John Marriott started the empire with absolutely nothing but a rootbeer stand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_Corporation. You don't need a hospitality degree to come up with a new business plan that works.

Anonymous wrote:The thing about hospitality is that many of the jobs have hours that are the "off hours" for office jobs.... i.e. weekend and nights and holidays ... especially holidays. It's probably not such a problem if your DD works in the same area where her relatives live... b/c then she could still catch up with the family for a little holiday time. But, it wouldn't be very conducive to a person who lives further away and wants to see their family at holidays.

My SIL quickly rose up the hotel management ranks and was managing her own hotel at 30. Management works 9-5, M-F.