When pursuing a career in the hospitality industry, I know that the right education can make all the difference. Hotel management is dynamic, offering a blend of business acumen, customer service, and global travel opportunities. Aspiring hotel managers like myself seek education from the best institutions to thrive in this competitive field.
Top hotel management colleges in the world are renowned not only for their rigorous academic programs but also for their hands-on training, industry connections, and global recognition. These prestigious institutions equip students with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to excel in luxury hotels, resorts, and hospitality businesses worldwide.
Whether I dream of managing a five-star hotel, planning international events, or leading a hospitality team, attending one of these top colleges can be my gateway to success in the vibrant and ever-evolving hospitality industry. Let's explore some of the premier hotel management colleges shaping the future of hospitality leaders.
Being a diverse field, hotel management is different from regular corporate jobs. Individuals working in hotels get to explore their creative side. They also get multiple opportunities to implement new ideas, overcome challenges, and offer better customer service. Numerous aspirants choose to study abroadat leading hotel management institutions.
Here are some reasons why it may be worthwhile.
1. Attractive Job Prospects:
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, there were 27 million new jobs in the sector in 2023. The body also believes that 86 million new jobs will be created in 2027, which augurs well for skilled graduates.
2. Lucrative Salaries:
Skilled graduates can expect lucrative salaries for various job roles in the industry. For instance, restaurant managers can earn around $70,004 per year, while hotel managers can earn approximately $64,809 per year, according to Glassdoor.
3. Diverse Career Opportunities
You canwork in hotels, resorts, event planning, cruise lines, food and beverage management, and tourism marketing. In fact, you get the opportunity to specialize in areas like luxury management, eco-tourism, wellness tourism, and hospitality technology. Moreover, you can move between different roles and departments, such as front office, housekeeping, sales and marketing, and human resources.
4. Personal Growth:
Working in the hospitality industry allows you to develop interpersonal skills that go a long way in building relations within and beyond your work area. This is one of the top reasons to consider pursuing hotel management courses.
5. Transferable Skills:
One of the biggest perks of studying hotel management is that you’ll get to build transferable skills, including decision-making, multi-tasking, teamwork, marketing, and administration. Add to that global exposure and interactions with people from diverse cultures, and you get the picture!
Founded in 1893, EHL Hospitality Business School is ranked as the world’s best hotel management school by QS World University Rankings for Hospitality and Leisure Management in 2023.
Known for its quality of education, EHL’s program in Hospitality Management aims to equip the students with the right skill sets necessary to excel in the industry.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Total Average Fees
Bachelor’s in International Hospitality Management
CHF 52,880 (INR 49.89 lakh)
Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management
CHF 119,040 (INR 1.12 crore)
Culinary and Restaurant Management Certificate
CHF 22,195 (INR 20.94 lakh)
Master in Hospitality Management
CHF 30,500 (INR 28.78 lakh)
Master in Global Hospitality Business
CHF 60,042 (INR 56.65 lakh)
2. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is recognized for its strong emphasis on science and technology, business management, and law programs, the university is classified as a “research-intensive university” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Average Annual Fees
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
$24,050-26,255 (INR 20.06-21.90 lakh)
Dual Master’s Degree in Hotel Administration & MBA
$24,050-26,255 (INR 20.06-21.90 lakh)
Executive Master of Hospitality Administration
$24,050-26,255 (INR 20.06-21.90 lakh)
Doctor of Philosophy in Hospitality Administration
$24,050-26,255 (INR 20.06-21.90 lakh)
Master of Science in Hotel Administration
$24,050-26,255 (INR 20.06-21.90 lakh)
3. Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS)
Situated in the historical and former Swiss Palace hotels, the Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) emphasizes “Learning By Doing.” Sustaining the legacy of Swiss hospitality traditions, the institution emphasizes providing world-class education in hotel management.
Holding accreditations from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, SHMS offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Average Total Fees
Bachelor of Arts
CHF 96,700 (INR 91.24 lakh)
Postgraduate Diploma
CHF 24,700 (INR 23.30 lakh)
Master of Arts
CHF 29,400 (INR 27.74 lakh)
Master of Science
CHF 31,100 (INR 29.34 lakh)
Online Executive Master
CHF 19,800 (INR 18.68 lakh)
4. Glion Institute of Higher Education
Established in 1962, the Glion Institute of Higher Education is one of the finest educational institutions for hospitality and luxury management. With campuses in Switzerland and London, Glion focuses on offering education beyond classroom learning through professional internships.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Average Total Fees
Bachelor’s in International Hospitality (or Luxury) Business
CHF 176,600 (INR 1.66 crore)
Master’s in Hospitality Business Leadership
CHF 53,600 (INR 50.57 lakh)
Master’s in Real Estate, Finance, and Hotel Development
CHF 43,350 (INR 40.90 lakh)
Executive Master’s in Luxury Management and Guest Experience
CHF 32,000 (INR 30.19 lakh)
5. Hotelschool The Hague
Hotelschool The Hague was founded in 1929 by the hospitality industry to create a hub where industry partners could gain and share new insights, skills, and knowledge. Since then, it has become one of the best colleges for hotel management.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Average Annual Fees
Bachelor in Hospitality Management
16,713 Euros (INR 14.98 lakh)
Master in Leading Hotel Transformation
14,797 Euros (INR 13.26 lakh)
MBA in International Hospitality Management
20,800 Euros (INR 18.64 lakh)
6. Bournemouth University
Located in the seaside town of Bournemouth, in Dorset, on the southern coast of England, Bournemouth University is one of the leading modern universities in the UK. Earlier started as Bournemouth Municipal College, the institution became Bournemouth University in 1992.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Average Annual Fees
MSc International Hospitality & Tourism Management
£17125 (INR 18.16 lakh)
BA (Hons) International Tourism & Hospitality Management
£17,800 (INR 18.90 lakh)
7. Cornell University
Founded in 1865, Cornell University is a private Ivy League university with its main campus located in Ithaca, New York. With a student body of more than a thousand undergraduates and graduates, Cornell offers enriching student life.
Courses & Fees
Course Name
Average Total Fees
Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Administration
$68,380 (INR 57.04 lakh)
Master of Management in Hospitality
$68,380 (INR 57.04 lakh)
8. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University aspires to earn prominence in terms of hospitality research and education. With a wide range of innovative undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs across eight faculties and schools, the university nurtures future-ready global leaders.
From a diploma in hotel management to a bachelor’s or master’s in hotel management, numerous options are available for aspirants today. However, choosing the right institution is essential.
Look at our list of the top hotel management colleges in the world and their courses and other requirements. After all, with the number of global tourism jobs estimated at 320 million in 2023, there are always opportunities for growth and progress in this industry for qualified professionals.
On that note, you can consider studying solutions from upGrad Abroad to achieve your global education dreams through collaborations with top international universities.
FAQs on Hotel Management
Which countries are the best to study hotel management?
Hotel management courses allow students to work in different countries. The best colleges for hotel management in the world are in Europe. Hence, countries like Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France are great destinations.
In addition, the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada are good options for pursuing a Hotel Management and Tourism career.
Does hotel management offer a good future?
With digital solutions and automation, hotels and restaurants are adapting to a contactless service approach. Hence, the sector will have a promising future.
However, hotel management isn’t limited to a particular profile. You can choose from jobs like accounting, operations, food, security, front office, and many more.
What is the highest job position for a food job profile in a restaurant?
Head Chef is a top-level position in food operations in a hotel or restaurant. Generally, the profile can also have responsibilities like budgeting and team management.
Other profiles like General Manager, Revenue, Purchase, Marketing, and others are significant, too. Managers are well-paid and are vital to the operations of the food and beverages departments.
Which countries have excellent job prospects in the hospitality sector?
After knowing the best hotel management colleges in the world, it is crucial to target countries with excellent career prospects. Generally, the countries with top hospitality institutes have plenty of job offers.
However, other countries like Norway, South Korea, Maldives, Italy, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand are promising career destinations.
What is the minimum education requirement to pursue a hotel management course abroad?
You can opt to pursue a career in hotel management abroad after completing the junior college phase. National and international universities accept students after the 12th standard for diploma and degree courses.
However, the best colleges for hotel management in the world demand good scores in exams like GRE or IELTS. These exams are mandatory to present your candidature for foreign institutes.
Overall, be prepared for some hotel management entrance exams. Each university demands specific criteria to fulfill.
Why should I choose hotel management as a career?
There are several reasons for choosing hospitality as your career. One of them is the diversity that hotel management offers.
You will not only meet new people but would also get a chance to travel and explore the creative side of the industry.
What is the duration of a hotel management course?
The average duration of a hotel management course is one to four years. However, certificate and diploma courses may take less than a year to complete.
What is the average salary after pursuing hotel management?
The annual average salary after pursuing hotel management is approximately $90,081 per year, according to Glassdoor.
Which subjects are included in hotel management?
Some of the subjects that are included in the curriculum are Financial Accounting, Food & Beverage, Microeconomics, Hospitality Marketing, Business Communication, and Revenue Management.
What are some of the best courses in hotel management?
Some of the best hotel management courses at the undergraduate level are BA in Culinary Arts, BBA in Hotel Management, BA (Hons) in Hotel Management, Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Hotel Management, and Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology.
On the other hand, some of the top courses at the postgraduate level are MSc in Hotel Management, Master of Hotel Management (MHM), Master of Tourism and Hotel Management (MTHM), and an MBA in Hotel Management.
What is the annual fee for a hotel management course abroad?
The annual fee for a hotel management course abroad ranges from INR 18.68 lakh to INR 1.66 crore on average, depending on the country, course, and other aspects.
What is food production in hotel management?
Food Production is a department that is involved in the preparation of food. It covers the process of cooking, combining, and transforming raw materials to make dishes.
Akansha Semwal is a content marketer at upGrad and has also worked as a social media marketer & sub-editor. Experienced in creating impressive Statement of Purpose, Essays, and LOR, she knows how to captivate the attention of Admissions Committee. Her research-driven;study-abroad articles helps aspirants to make the prudent decision. She holds a bachelor's & master's degree in Literature from the University of Delhi.