What is Intro to hospitality and tourism in high school?

While you love lounging on the beach at a resort in Bali, you’re curious about the business behind the scenes. What drives travelers to pick their destination, what makes an incredible experience, and what impact do tourism and travel have on local communities?

Studying tourism and hospitality management is your ticket to one of the highest growing industries today: According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism has experienced continued growth and diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world!

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that 1 of every 10 jobs on the planet are in the hospitality and tourism industry, which also accounts for 1 in 5 of all new jobs created over the last five years. That means there’s plenty of opportunities to create a career in this ever-growing industry.

If you’re a world traveler who’s also organized, business-minded, hard-working, and a friendly people-person, read on to discover why a hospitality and tourism management program could be the perfect fit for you!

In this guide:

  1. What is a hospitality and tourism degree?
  2. How long does a degree take?
  3. Why study hospitality and tourism abroad?
  4. What's the difference between Hospitality and Tourism
  5. Tips for choosing a tourism and hospitality degree
  6. Advice from graduates
  7. What to ask universities about their hospitality programs
  8. What to look for in a university
  9. Hospitality and tourism accreditations for universities
  10. Careers in hospitality and tourism
  11. Salaries in the hospitality and tourism sector
  12. Popular universities for studying hospitality and tourism

Find a Hospitality & Tourism program

Use our free search engine to find & compare hospitality and tourism degrees from top universities around the world.

Principles of Hospitality and Tourism introduces students to an industry that encompasses lodging, travel and tourism, recreation, amusements, attractions, and food/beverage operations. Students learn knowledge and skills focusing on communication, time management, and customer service that meet industry standards. Students will explore the history of the hospitality and tourism industry and examine characteristics needed for success in that industry.

Level 2 Courses:

TRAVEL AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT

Grade: 10–12 Credit: 1 Course #1658

Recommended Prerequisite: Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

Travel and Tourism Management incorporates management principles and procedures of the travel and tourism industry as well as destination geography, airlines, international travel, cruising, travel by rail, lodging, recreation, amusements, attractions, and resorts. Employment qualifications and opportunities are also included in this course.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP I

Grade: 10–12 Credit: 1 Course #1617

Recommended Prerequisite: Principles of Hospitality and Tourism or Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance.

Students will learn the principles necessary to begin and operate a business. The primary focus of the course is to help students understand the process of analyzing a business opportunity, preparing a business plan, determining the feasibility of an idea using research, and developing a plan to organize and promote the business and its products and services.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING I

Grade: 10–12 Credit: .5 Course #1618

Recommended Prerequisite: Principles of Hospitality and Tourism or Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance.

Sports and Entertainment Marketing will provide students with a thorough understanding of the marketing concepts and theories that apply to sports and entertainment. The areas this course will cover include basic marketing concepts, publicity, sponsorship, endorsements, licensing, branding, event marketing, promotions, and sports and entertainment marketing strategies.

Level 3 Courses:

INTRODUCTION TO EVENT AND MEETING PLANNING (New 2022-23)

Grade: 11–12 Credit: 1 Course #1663

Prerequisite: Travel and Tourism Management

This course will introduce students to the concepts and topics necessary for the comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of the meetings, conventions, events, and exposition industries. The course will review the roles of the organizations and people involved in the businesses that comprise the Meetings, Events, Expositions and Convention (MEEC) industry.

GLOBAL BUSINESS

Grade: 10–12 Credits: .5 Course #1610

Recommended Prerequisite: Travel and Tourism Management, or Entrepreneurship I

Global Business is designed for students to analyze global trade theories, international monetary systems, trade policies, politics, and laws relating to global business as well as cultural issues, logistics, and international human resource management.

TOURISM MARKETING CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS

Grade: 11–12 Credits: 1 Course #1666

Recommended Prerequisite: Travel and Tourism Management, or Entrepreneurship I

This course will provide students with a thorough understanding of marketing concepts and theories that apply to the travel and tourism industry to include lodging, food and beverage operations, recreation, amusements, attractions, convention and visitors’ bureaus and tourism companies. While general concepts of marketing for travel and tourism are similar to the marketing of other products and services, the travel and tourism industry has unique characteristics that create a variety of challenges and opportunities specific to and important for tourism marketing professionals.

Level 4 Courses:

PRACTICUM IN HOSPITALITY SERVICES HONORS (New 2023-24)

Grade: 12 Credit: 2 Course #1664

Prerequisite: Introduction to Event and Meeting Planning

Practicum in Hospitality Services is a unique practicum experience to provide opportunities for students to participate in a learning experience that combines classroom instruction with actual business and industry career experiences. Practicum in Hospitality Services integrates academic and career and technical education; provides more interdisciplinary instruction; and supports strong partnerships among schools, businesses, and community institutions with the goal of preparing students with a variety of skills in a fast-changing culinary art based workplace. Students are taught employability skills, including job-specific skills applicable to their training plan, job interview techniques, communication skills, financial and budget activities, human relations, and portfolio development. Practicum in Hospitality Services is relevant and rigorous, supports student attainment of academic and technical standards, and effectively prepares students for college and career success. NOTE: This course is double blocked. Please review the LTHS Practicum and Career Prep Handbook before selecting a practicum or career prep course.

PRACTICUM IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP HONORS

Grade: 12 Credits: 2 Course #1632

Prerequisite: Successful completion of one or more advanced (Level 3 or 4) CTE courses that are part of a coherent sequence of courses in the selected Career Cluster.

In addition to developing advanced technical knowledge and skills needed for success in the Hospitality and Tourism Career Cluster, students will be expected to develop an advanced technical understanding of the business aspects of the chosen program of study. Instruction may be delivered through lab-based classroom experiences or career preparation opportunities. NOTE: This course is double blocked. Please review the LTHS Practicum and Career Prep Handbook before selecting a practicum or career prep course.

CAREER PREPARATION I

Grade: 11–12 Credit: 2 Course #1626

Prerequisite: Successful completion of one or more advanced (Level 3 or 4) CTE courses that are part of a coherent sequence of courses in the selected Career Cluster.

Career Preparation I provides opportunities for students to participate in a work-based learning experience that combines classroom instruction with business and industry employment experiences. The goal is to prepare students with a variety of skills for a changing workplace. Career preparation is relevant and rigorous, supports student attainment of academic standards, and effectively prepares students for college and career success. NOTE: This course is double blocked. Please review the LTHS Practicum and Career Prep Handbook before selecting a practicum or career prep course.

What is Introduction to hospitality and tourism?

Credit(s): 3. An overview of the hospitality industry, including all of its related fields: restaurant; lodging; meetings, conventions and expositions. Also featured are the applications of the general marketing, human resources, leadership, and management.

What do you learn in hospitality and tourism?

It includes areas such as lifestyle, travel, food and culture. You will learn how international tourism works, how it is a large contributor to economies globally, the sustainability of tourism and detailed topics such as customer demand and the supply chain.

What subject is Intro to hospitality?

Major topics include travel and tourism, lodging, food and beverage, managed services, gaming and entertainment, meetings, conventions, and expositions. Management issues, customer service, marketing, human resources and technology are emphasized.

What do you learn in hospitality in school?

You not only learn the upper-level management skills and the operation processes in hospitality, but you may also develop marketable skills such as teamwork, leadership, design thinking, finance and budgeting, as well as marketing.