When she was growing up, Betsy Griffin liked nothing better than traveling and planning parties for her friends. At 16, she hosted a surprise party with 60 guests for her parents' 20th wedding anniversary. Little wonder that Georgia State University's Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality is a perfect fit for her.
Griffin will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in hospitality administration in August, but she’s already working as a senior site selection coordinator for Meeting Expectations, an Atlanta-based meeting company.
“Events still give me an adrenaline rush,” Griffin said. “I work in a supporting role to help managers find cities and venues for our clients, but I recently got to travel onsite for a major event. I’d done the logistics, so seeing that it had all come together and that the attendees were having a good experience was so rewarding.”
Those who work in the hospitality industry are employed by hotels, restaurants, event venues, food service businesses, meeting and event companies, as well as private clubs, convention and visitor bureaus, and industry associations.
“This is truly a dynamic career. It’s fast-paced and you get to build incredible relationships,” she said. “There is never a dull moment. Family members say that I just came alive when I started studying this field. I love it.”
Contrary to popular belief, it takes more than a smile to work in hospitality.
“You have to be a people person, but you also have to have a good business background. Georgia State has one of the few BBA programs in hospitality,” Griffin said. “You get courses in finance, accounting and marketing, as well as faculty who work in the industry. So instead of just textbook knowledge, you’re getting lots of real-world opportunities to shadow, volunteer and intern. I’ve gotten a solid foundation.”
Georgia State’s hospitality program is the state’s oldest and largest. It has been supplying managers to the industry for 40 years, and has been ranked 13th in the nation by the “Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education.”
A unique feature of the program is accreditation through both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.
“Seeking re-accreditation through two organizations keeps us continually improving,” said Debra F. Cannon, director and associate professor. “We were the first school to offer a specialization in hotel industry analytics, and (we) have seven students who hold the CHIA (Certified Hotel Industry Analytics) designation.”
This fall the school is launching a one-year master’s degree with a global focus.
Growth industry
Hospitality is one of the top-tier industries in Georgia, and Atlanta continues to grow as a hospitality hub. The city boasts the meeting venues, world-class hotels, restaurants and attractions to attract both business travelers and tourists. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport makes Atlanta a gateway city.
“We’re seeing a huge new wave of international visitors and we’re trying to do an even better job of attracting them,” Cannon said.
Like many industries, hospitality was hard hit by the recession.
“We have been digging out of a deep hole, but average room rates and occupancy have come back and the industry is looking very healthy. It’s a good time to be in hospitality,” Cannon said. “We found jobs for our students in the recession and phones are ringing off the hook now.”
Meeting, convention and event managers are listed as one of the Georgia Department of Labor’s Hot Careers to 2020, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job demand for these professionals to grow by 44 percent from 2010 to 2020.
About 450 Georgia State students are majoring in the program with 120 more minoring in it. Career changers or industry workers who want to update their skills can earn four-course certificates.
"The industry is very performance-based. So it's possible for someone with a certificate to get his foot in the door by volunteering, make connections and find a job," Cannon said.
Mixing people and business
Hospitality administration majors take basic business courses as well as hospitality general courses before specializing in hotel, restaurant or private club management; event planning, meeting and trade show management; or facilities operations.
“We added aviation and airport management specialties in 2006, because of our proximity to the airport,” Cannon said. “Hartsfield-Jackson employs more than 60,000 people.”
Those who work in the hospitality industry need a combination of talents.
“Having a service personality is primary in this profession. Students need good interpersonal and communication skills, and to be good at conflict resolution, problem-solving, team-building and leadership,” Cannon said. “But they also need good analytical skills because this business runs on data. At the end of the day, you need a profit on the bottom line.”
Working in the industry to gain experience is required, and living in Atlanta makes that easy.
“This is one of the best cities to learn the business because there are restaurants, hotels and venues right outside our door. Our students see a nice cross section of convention and leisure travelers,” Cannon said.
Atlanta is also a hub for industry associations, which give students an opportunity to network, volunteer and learn the business from the inside.
“A hospitality degree offers students a number of career options, and there’s a great career escalator,” Cannon said. “Starting salaries average $45,000 to $48,000 and upward career movement is much faster than in many industries.”
About the Author
