The hospitality industry is one of the most dynamic sectors in the global economy, offering career opportunities in hotel operations, tourism, event planning, food and beverage management, and business development. As organizations place greater value on service quality and guest experience, the demand for skilled hospitality professionals continues to grow in both domestic and international markets.
Graduates of the online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Concentration in Hospitality Management program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University are well prepared to step into these roles. This flexible, fully online degree combines essential business knowledge with hospitality-focused coursework, helping students build the skills and confidence to thrive in a wide range of customer-facing environments.
What Is a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management?
A BBA in hospitality management blends core business education with specialized training in service-based industries. This degree helps students develop a strong foundation in areas like marketing, finance, operations and human resources while also exploring topics unique to hospitality environments.
Coursework in this program may include hospitality marketing, event management, lodging operations, tourism management and customer experience strategy. Students also learn about organizational leadership and business ethics, preparing them to make sound decisions in fast-paced and guest-focused settings. The goal is to graduate with both the business acumen and industry insight needed to pursue leadership roles in hospitality and related fields.
Why Should You Earn a Degree in Hospitality Management?
A degree in hospitality management opens the door to a people-centered profession that values leadership, adaptability and strategic thinking. For those who enjoy working in team environments, solving real-time challenges and creating memorable experiences for others, the hospitality field offers a rewarding and fast-paced career path.
This degree is especially well-suited for organized, service-oriented individuals who are interested in business operations. Whether managing a hotel, performing a human resources role at a resort or planning large-scale events, graduates develop transferable skills that can apply to many settings. Earning a formal credential can also help candidates stand out in a competitive job market, especially when seeking advancement into supervisory or executive roles.
Salary and Growth Potential in a Hospitality Management Career
Employment prospects for hospitality management graduates are generally strong, particularly in roles related to lodging and event planning. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lodging managers earned a median annual wage of over $68,000 in 2024. With a degree in hospitality management, professionals may earn significantly higher salaries. Available positions are projected to grow by 10% through 2033, which is considerably faster than the average for all occupations, with 5,300 anticipated openings each year.
In 2024, event-related roles, including meeting, convention and event planners, had a median annual wage of $59,440. Employment for planners is projected to grow by over 7% by 2033, with nearly 10,000 openings annually. BLS also estimates that event planners held about 122,000 jobs nationwide in 2023, with a median annual wage of around $62,280, highlighting the competitive compensation in the field.
Graduates may pursue other roles such as food and beverage director, gaming manager, hospitality sales manager or corporate travel coordinator, which typically fall under broader management occupations. The median annual wage for the entire management occupational group was $122,090 in 2024.
Career Growth and Advancement Opportunities
Early-career professionals often begin in supervisory or assistant-level roles, such as assistant hotel manager, event coordinator or guest services supervisor. From there, there are many opportunities to advance into departmental leadership, full-service hotel management or corporate hospitality strategy roles.
With experience and strong performance in client relations and operations, hospitality graduates can advance into mid- to upper-level roles, such as hotel general manager, regional operations director or event sales executive. Relevant certifications and demonstrated success in revenue management tend to accelerate advancement.
Outside of lodging and events, positions in travel agencies, destination marketing, convention bureaus or customer experience roles at large corporations greatly benefit from hospitality‑focused business skills and a client‑service orientation.
Inside the Online BBA in Hospitality Management Program at Southeastern
Southeastern’s fully online hospitality management degree is designed for working adults and aspiring professionals. The program’s flexible format allows students to complete coursework on their own schedule, making it easier to balance education with job and family responsibilities.
The curriculum is taught by experienced faculty who bring industry insight into the virtual classroom, and students have access to support services from enrollment through graduation. With affordable tuition and a strong academic foundation, Southeastern’s program prepares graduates to lead in a variety of hospitality-focused careers.
Take the Next Steps Toward a Career in Hospitality
The AACSB-accredited BBA in Hospitality Management online program provides a valuable foundation for entering one of the most vibrant and people-driven sectors of the economy. Graduates enter the workforce with transferable skills for roles in hotel management, client relations and large-scale event planning, positioning them to pursue roles that offer growth, variety and personal fulfillment.
Southeastern’s online BBA in Hospitality Management program offers the flexibility, affordability and academic support needed to succeed. With a curriculum rooted in real-world business principles and hospitality-specific training, this program equips students to launch or advance their careers in the hospitality field. Take the next step and contact admissions or apply online today.