Building the Career of Your Dreams: Specialisations at AIHM

Building the career of your dreams takes time, patience and planning - as they say, Rome was not built in a day.

The young leaders practicing the art of hospitality at AIHM have big dreams. The journey to the destinations they envision is made more enjoyable by those they travel alongside – the friends and connections they make while studying with us.

Hotel Careers: A Wealth of Choice

When students arrive at AIHM they are asked big questions about their bright future. Do you dream of becoming an entrepreneur or furthering your family business? Do you hope to make an impact with your voice as a digital marketer or influencer? Are you financially minded and have aspirations to grow your personal earning capacity whilst enhancing the bottom line of a global organisation? All of these pathways are available to you with a hospitality education from AIHM. We offer three separate tracks, known as specialisations, for the aspirational hotelier.

Much of your educational journey is shared with those in your year. As a cohort, you learn the foundations of the hotel industry together in hospitality management classes and practical arts immersions over the first two and a half years of your course. (Note: during these years, you also enjoy two internships – another signature of the AIHM education). Once you have the foundations under your belt, it’s time to specialise in the area you are most interested in. The culmination of your time at AIHM is a choice of one of three specialty tracks. Each track is rich in contemporary theories, concepts and practical applications, which embeds deep learning.

For many young people with dreams of joining the hospitality business, the first careers that come to mind are operational roles. In reality, hospitality provides a variety of career pathways. In addition to the top-of-mind options in operations and leadership roles such as one day becoming a hotel’s general manager, a hospitality management degree can pave the way to a wealth of other career specialties. Discover some of them below.

Track 1 – Hospitality Entrepreneurship

The perfect choice for students who have an entrepreneurial spirit, this specialisation focuses on building a toolbox of skills and knowledge for launching your own business or developing an existing business. Whether you want to establish your own hotel, grow an enterprise, expand a family business, or build a small business of your own, the Hospitality Entrepreneurship track is a great launching pad. You’ll learn contemporary business strategies, create start-up business plans using ‘lean methodologies’, and be immersed in both project management and financial management – all while having fun along the way.

Career Options:

• Entrepreneur (Set up your own hotel, restaurant, travel company, tourism company or event company.)
• Small-business owner
• Start-up expert
• Corporate consulting
• Business development

Track 2 – Digital Marketing Strategies

This pathway prepares you for a career as an innovator in online communications. You’ll learn contemporary marketing strategies you can apply to promote businesses in the hospitality industry and beyond. Understand the future of marketing – how to identify trends and anticipate the needs of the global market. Develop your expertise in online communication methods, with a special focus on social media. Master the fundamentals of brand management, diving into the ways a memorable brand experience can energise a hotel to stand out from its competition and thrive in the future’s dynamic, changing markets.

Career Options:

• Marketer
• Social media influencer
• Brand development
• Global strategic management
• Advertising
• Communications specialist
• Public relations

Track 3 – Hotel Financial Performance

Focus on the numbers and the dollar signs. In the Hotel Financial Performance specialisation, you’ll develop the skills required to successfully manage financial and accounting processes. The hotel performance management track exposes students to the role of a financial manager by gaining a working knowledge of corporate financial tools and risk management strategies. Learn how to forecast, model and estimate financial performance to make intelligent, profitable financial decisions.

Career Options:

• Finance
• Accounting
• Risk analysis
• Procurement and purchasing
• Investor relations

Hospitality Education at AIHM: Broadening Your Horizons

Students who desire a career in operational roles benefit from these pathways as these tracks will build a strong foundation to succeed across industries and disciplines. AIHM is focused on giving students choices and students are invited to explore different avenues throughout their time with us. When you broaden your mind, you’re able to see beyond your current or future role and consider how all parts of a hotel or hospitality company work together. Every organisation consists of many different parts, but they all share a common goal. Leaders must grasp the big picture in order to see opportunities that others cannot yet see.

No matter which specialisation you choose, you’ll graduate with the contemporary knowledge, skills and practical experience that will serve as a sound foundation for your career in hospitality.

Want to find out even more about these tracks?

Visit AIHM’s web section on Hospitality Specialisations or request more info about our BBA degree in Hospitality Management now.