Jobs for Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management Graduates

Managing hotels, travel and events

A Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management combines hotel operations (front office, food and beverage, accommodation, kitchen management) with tourism, events, marketing, finance and human resources for the hospitality sector. Kenya's tourism industry, from coastal resorts and safari lodges to Nairobi's conference hotels and restaurants, employs large numbers of people, and degree holders are aimed at supervisory and management roles rather than entry-level service jobs.

Where graduates work

• Hotel management trainee, front office supervisor and guest relations manager
• Food and beverage supervisor and restaurant manager
• Tour consultant, travel agent and safari operations coordinator
• Events, conferences and exhibitions coordinator
• Sales and marketing executive for hotels, airlines and tour operators

Regulation in the sector

The Tourism Act, 2011 established the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA), which licenses tourism enterprises such as hotels, restaurants, tour operators and travel agencies, and classifies hotels. Managers are expected to know licensing and food safety requirements, including the medical certificates that food handlers must hold under public health law. Kenya Utalii College, under the Tourism Act, is a major training institution and an important industry network.

Entry requirements

Places are allocated through KUCCPS with a minimum C+ mean grade. Diploma holders in hospitality or tourism can often join with credit transfer, which is a common route for people already working in the industry.

Getting the first job

Hotels hire on attitude and experience, so make the most of industrial attachment, ideally in a well-run hotel or resort where you rotate across departments. Language skills, especially French, German, Italian or Chinese, are valued at the coast and in safari circuits. Many large hotel groups run management trainee programmes; watch for them and apply early.

Seasonality and conditions

Hospitality work involves shifts, weekends and public holidays, and coastal and safari jobs are seasonal, so understand your contract, overtime and service charge arrangements. Our overtime calculator helps you check pay for extra hours.

Career path

Graduates progress through supervisor and departmental manager roles to assistant general manager and general manager. International hotel groups offer transfers across Africa and beyond, and experienced managers also move into hotel consulting, events businesses or their own restaurants and tour companies.