Hospitality focus on delivering services related to accommodation, food and beverage, and guest experiences. It covers how hotels, resorts, airlines, restaurants and other tourism services create and manage experiences for visitors and customers. The field combines service management, customer care, operations and business coordination.
Hospitality is a key component of the global service economy, focusing on industries that provide accommodation, food and beverage, and guest-related services. It includes areas such as hotel management, restaurant operations, event coordination, and customer service. Professionals in this field work in environments where service quality, attention to detail, and guest satisfaction play a crucial role in business success. The Hospitality sector also contributes significantly to economic development by creating employment opportunities and supporting local and international business growth.
Career paths
A qualification in Hospitality can lead to careers in hotels, resorts, restaurants, on cruise lines, and other service-driven establishments. Common roles include hotel manager, front office manager, event coordinator, and food and beverage supervisor. Many graduates also move into guest experience management, operational roles or start their own Hospitality-related businesses. The focus of these careers is on delivering high-quality service, ensuring guest satisfaction and creating positive and memorable experiences.
Skills you’ll develop
Students in this field develop practical, service-driven skills that are used daily in the industry. These include customer service, communication, operations management, problem solving, financial awareness, team coordination and attention to detail. Depending on the qualification, subjects such as event planning, Hospitality marketing, tourism management and business operations in service environments will also be covered.
Industry demand
Hospitality remains a major global employment sector, driven by the demand for quality accommodation, food and beverage services, and exceptional guest experiences. The industry contributes significantly to economic growth and job creation, with continued recovery and expansion in recent years. Growth is supported by increasing consumer demand for leisure and business services, as well as the development of new Hospitality infrastructure, particularly in emerging markets. In South Africa, the Hospitality sector plays an important role in the economy by supporting employment across hotels, restaurants, venues, and related service industries.
Higher Certificates
Bachelor’s Degrees
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Choose the programme that matches your goals. All include practical experience and industry exposure
Duration: 1 year full-time
Higher Certificate
NQF Level: 5
Credits: 120
Faculty: Faculty of Commerce
Duration: 3 years full-time
Bachelor Degree
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 360
Faculty: Faculty of Commerce
Graduates can work in hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise lines and event companies. Roles include hotel manager, front office coordinator, event planner and food and beverage supervisor.
Yes. The industry offers wide career opportunities locally and internationally. It is service driven and suits people who enjoy working with customers, managing operations and working in fast-paced environments.
Some programmes include online or blended learning options through Emeris, depending on the qualification level and structure.
A Higher Certificate typically takes one year, while a bachelor’s degree takes three years. Duration may vary depending on study mode and programme requirements.
Key skills include communication, customer service, organisation, teamwork, problem solving, and the ability to work under pressure in service-focused environments.
[None available currently to include]
An educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education
Formed by the strategic evolution of The IIE's Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega and
the School of Hospitality and Service Management, uniting under the Emeris name.
Emeris is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002). Company registration number: 1987/004754/07. View certificate here.
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