Many schools nationwide offer hospitality degrees for those seeking careers in tourism. Hospitality qualifications may differ depending on the job type. For example, a career in hotel management typically requires a bachelor's degree, while individuals aiming to become chefs should undergo culinary training and earn either certification or a degree. A person who wants to become a front desk clerk, on the other hand, might do so with minimal formal education and effective customer services skills.
A person looking to work in hotel or hospitality management must typically attend a technical college or university to pursue a degree or tourism certification. Since managers often have the responsibility of running the entire hotel, they must have extensive knowledge about all aspects of the business and understand how to run every department. Other hospitality qualifications for management include knowing how to effectively create a pleasant and positive environment for guests while simultaneously overseeing the jobs of the staff who work behind the scenes to make the hotel function. Additionally, hotel managers usually must know how to perform other duties, including filing paperwork, enforcing hotel policies and regulations, and training employees.
Hospitality qualifications for a chef usually include some type of formal culinary training, either in a specialized school or in a tourism and hospitality program at a college or university. After a chef graduates with a degree or special certification, he will often undergo hands-on training at a restaurant. Specific education requirements for a chef position generally will depend upon the establishment for which he hopes to work — nicer restaurants at popular destination resorts may require chefs to obtain training at prestigious schools instead of local colleges, while smaller, everyday restaurants may not have strict requirements. During hospitality training, a chef will learn how to not only cook large quantities of food and maintain quality based on the specifications of the restaurant, but he will also learn a variety of cooking techniques.
For front desk employees, hospitality qualifications are typically not as strict. While some seeking careers as front desk agents pursue certifications in hospitality and tourism from technical schools, many do not. A front desk employee must exhibit excellent communication skills and a superior level of customer service, and a professional mannerism, an agreeable speaking voice and a positive attitude are typically required of a front desk agent as well. Other hospitality qualifications for a front desk employee include the ability to learn quickly, being familiar with the location of the hotel and its surrounding areas, and being able to recommend attractions to guests. As reservations are typically made through a computer system, a front desk employee must also have solid computer skills.