An MBA in Hotel Management or Hospitality Management? Get Your Answers Here!

An MBA in Hotel Management or Hospitality Management? Get Your Answers Here!

MBA is a postgraduate course available for students after their Bachelor’s Degree. There are various specializations in MBA along with some of the primary areas of study like HR, Finance, Marketing, and Operations. Two of such specializations are MBA in Hospitality Management & MBA in Hotel Management. But MBA aspirants are often confused to choose one between the two. 

Well, MBA in Hotel Management is a 2-years full time in Hospitality Sector, whereas MBA in Hospitality Management is a full-time course in Hospitality Management. Both the courses are a little different from one another where the latter deals in a much broader spectrum of study. So, aspirants must decide on the area of study and focus on that area only. It will help in driving away all confusion regarding choosing between the two courses. This blog will uncover the facts on MBA in Hotel Management & Hospitality Management to help prepare better.

What is an MBA in Hotel Management & Hospitality Management?

MBA in Hotel Management is a 2-year postgraduate management program spanning over 4 semesters in the hospitality industry. Students study subjects like Principles of Management, Accommodation Management, Food & Beverage Management. Along with these aspirants get trained in Communication and Soft skills, Tourism Essentials, Financial Management, Hospitality Marketing, and Sales. There are tremendous job opportunities available for students in various departments like – Culinary, Housekeeping, Accommodation, Food & Beverages, Sales & Marketing, Front Office, etc. 

The average salary after MBA in Hotel Management ranges between 2.5 to 10 Lakhs INR per annum. The course fee is between 2 Lakhs to 20 Lakhs INR. Top recruiting industries for MBA in Hotel Management are Airlines, Theme Parks, Railways, Travel and Tourism, Hotels, Event Management, Food Chains, etc. Some of the top colleges to study MBA in Hotel Management are Amity University, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, SUN International Institute for Tourism and Management, Visakhapatnam, and Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata.

MBA in Hospitality Management

MBA Hospitality Management is a 2-year full-time postgraduate program in Hospitality Management. It is also spread over 4 semesters. Some of the subjects taught include Organizational Behavior, Hospitality Law, Food & Beverages Management, Tourism Issues & Strategies, Accommodation Management, Event Management, Accounting, Advertising and Promotions, and many others. The spectrum of study is much wider. 

Major job profiles available to such graduates are Hotel Business Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Finance Manager, Lodging Manager, Restaurant Manager, Casino Manager, Cruise Director, etc. The course fee of this course ranges between 30,000 to 20 Lakhs INR. The average MBA Hospitality Management salary ranges from 3 to 10 Lakhs INR per annum. Top Recruiting Organizations are Qatar Airways, Emirates, Jet Airways, The Oberoi, The Claridges, The Leela, The Taj, etc. Top MBA colleges for MBA in Hospitality Management are Alliance University Bangalore, Amity University Noida, Lovely Professional University Jalandhar, Chandigarh University Chandigarh, etc.

MBA in Hotel Management & Hospitality Management Eligibility

Both the courses are 2-year postgraduate programs in respective fields. The courses are interlinked, but there is a stark difference which sets them apart. MBA in Hotel Management is more about the day to day operations in a Hotel. In contrast, an MBA in Hospitality Management involves the management of the hospitality sector (Hotels, Events, Sales, Restaurants, Tourism, Casinos) and includes people management. 

There is not much of a difference in their eligibility criteria, and the admission process for both the courses is similar. One must have 50% marks in the bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with any specialization. Having said that in the case of a Hospitality Management, preference is given to the candidates who have at least 2 years of work experience. In contrast, for an MBA in Hotel Management, no experience is needed. As far as admissions are concerned, for both these courses, candidates will have to appear for management exams such as CAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA etc.

Differences between MBA Hotel Management and Hospitality Management

As stated earlier, the main difference between the two courses is in the area of work. As the name suggests, an MBA in Hotel Management deals with all aspects of managing concerning hotels. MBA in Hotel management involves managing their day-to-day operations in the hotel or lodging-related establishments. MBA in Hospitality Management, on the other hand, is a broader term used which deals in people management in the Hospitality sector. It could be casinos, nightclubs, conferences, events, sales, business development, and even hotels. 

The second difference we found is job responsibilities. The primary responsibilities, with an MBA in Hotel Management, is focussed on activities in a hotel. Graduates help ensure guests enjoy a pleasant stay at their establishment. It involves taking care of them from the moment they check-in to the moment they check-out. Every single activity of the guest has to be outstanding to ensure their visit is worth their money. Departments such as the front desk, travel desk, housekeeping, concierge, room service, guest service, etc. are all the areas of responsibilities of a hotel manager. 

MBA in Hospitality Management includes taking care of guests in any industry including Hotels, Casinos, Events, and other organizations. For example, hospitality managers in large organizations are responsible for meeting and greeting foreign delegates and ensuring they have everything they need during the visit. But the scope of hospitality managers are not confined to hotels, it extends to casinos, restaurants and other organizations. 

The third difference is the driving factors. MBA in Hotel management is mostly an operations-oriented subject. Hotel managers primarily ensure each department in the hotel runs like a well-oiled machine. A MBA in Hotel Management degree, thus, provides intense training on how to manage these departments. MBA in Hospitality management is about people management. The aim is to make sure guests are comfortable and satisfied with their experience at the event, venue, hotel, etc. A good hospitality manager is one who takes customer/client experiences to the next level. 

The fourth difference is in career prospects. The salary increases only with relevant experience in MBA in Hotel Management while in MBA in Hospitality Management offers a salary according to work, and some roles offer lucrative salaries even at the entry-level. Job Roles after MBA in Hotel Management are – Restaurant Manager, Chef, Receptionist, Bartender, Shift Coordinator, Hotel Administrator, Operations Manager, and others. Whereas, job roles after Hospitality Management are – Hospitality Business Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Hotel Administration Manager, Sales Manager, Key Accounts Manager, etc.

After looking at the points mentioned above, we can say that an MBA in Hotel Management is operations-oriented as the hotel managers are usually responsible for making sure that all the departments in the hotel run smoothly. MBA in Hospitality Management, on the other hand, is all about people management and how to make sure that the guests are happy with their experience at an event, hotel, venue, or any other place. The hospitality industry is to grow until 460 billion USD, which reflects good growth in both the Hospitality Management & Hotel Management sector. 

Though MBA Hospitality management seems to offer more options as it deals in the broader spectrum, it does not mean that students of MBA in Hotel Management will lag. In the end, it all depends on one’s skill and dedication and area of interest. To be fair compensation and fees wise both are similar. So, first, get a clear understanding of the course and what you want to achieve from it, and then decide which one to pursue.