It is often believed in our society that making a career in fields like hospitality and tourism is not very profitable. People think that one cannot earn much in these fields, and it is limited to jobs like waiter or receptionist only. But this notion is now outdated.
The truth is that if you work hard in the right direction and improve your skills, then you can get such opportunities in this industry that will not only take your career to the heights, but will also give you a chance to live a luxurious lifestyle.
What is Hospitality industry?
Hospitality entails world of hospitality and this encompasses service industries such as hotels, restaurants, resorts, cruise, airlines, travel planning and event management. The primary task of this industry is providing the customers with an outstanding experience.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the sector contributed $9.5 trillion globally in the year 2023 and it is likely to grow even further.
Now let’s know about those top jobs in hospitality and tourism, in which there is no limit to earning.
Hotel General Manager
The general manager of the hotel means the captain of the entire hotel.
In this role, you have to take responsibility for everything from all the departments of the hotel such as staff management, housekeeping, kitchen, guest experience, finance and marketing.
A good hotel GM not only gets an attractive salary but also gets many additional facilities like free travel, staying in luxury hotels, bonuses etc.
Average salary: ₹30 lakh to ₹70 lakh per annum
Interesting fact: The salary of a GM in a five-star hotel in Mumbai or Delhi is no less than that of a VP of an IT company in Bangalore!
Restaurant Manager
If you love the world of food and want to play the role of a team leader, then becoming a restaurant manager is a great option.
In this role, you get the responsibility of running the entire restaurant—planning the kitchen staff, updating the menu, planning the theme dinner of the week, taking feedback from customers and tracking revenue.
Average salary: ₹10 lakh to ₹40 lakh per year
Bonus point: You also get a chance to participate in local events and create new strategies for marketing.
Event Manager
Do you like to be a part of events like weddings, corporate events and fashion shows?
The job of an event manager is very exciting. There is something new here every day—today a celebrity wedding, tomorrow a meeting of a multinational company.
You have to look after everything from logistics, decoration, client communication and budget planning to team You will have to organise everything in terms of logistics, decoration, communication with the clients and budgeting and managing the team.
Median Pay: Rs. 10 00 lakh to 30 00 lakh/year
The skills needed are: Imaginative thinking, organization and excellent networking skills.
Executive Chef
It was when chefs were involved in cooking in the kitchen. However, the executive chefs of today are more than the monarchs of taste as they are good administrators and business planners as well.
They lay out a menu, instruct employees, keep checking the quality and even manage the inventory of kitchen.
Mean salary: 12 lakh to 30 lakh rupees per year
Inspiration: names such as the Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranveer Brar is a brand today.
Cruise Director
Do you love the sea and love to travel? Then this profession is made for you.
The job of the cruise director is to entertain the passengers, organizing pool parties, game evenings, live music and dinners.
Minimum salary: 18 lakh to 40 lakh per year
Additional advantage: Traveling at no cost, luxury accommodations and exposure to the world.
Aires Aviation Hospitality Manager
Customers travelling in the first class or the business class today want to fly in luxury. This is the role of a hotelier to aviation.
In your job, there is training of flight attendants, the quality of in-flight service and customer experience care.
Salary range: 15-35 lakh per year
Advantages: Discounts on air fare, VIP lounge facilities and international networking.
Prime Journey Expert
People no longer desire traveling but the experience. Such experiences are created by luxury travel consultants.
Either you are reserving an overwater villa in the Maldives or a wine tour package in Tuscany, an individual planning of a trip is needed in this job.
Average pay: 8 lakh to 25 lakhs per year
Skills needed: An extensive knowledge of the destination, and a knowhow of interpreting taste of a client.
Sommelier (Wine Expert)
This can be an excellent career move provided that you love wine.
A sommelier is a worker who recommends the right wine to clients, makes food combinations and looks after the wine cellar in the hotel.
Minimum salary: 8 lakh to 25 lakh per annum
Tip: They are very much needed at a five-star restaurant, Michelin star.
Resort Operations Manager
If you are passionate about management as well as working in beautiful places, then this profession is perfect for you.
In this profile, you are given the responsibility of running the entire resort—instructing the staff, solving guest problems, and maintain every service at a high level.
Average salary: ₹12 lakh to ₹28 lakh per annum
Location bonus: Opportunity to work in tourist hotspots like Maldives, Goa, Bali.
Director of Sales
Sales does not only mean selling products, but it also includes big corporate tie-ups, destination wedding bookings and event partnerships.
The role of the Director of Sales is quite senior and his salary also includes a good performance bonus.
Average salary: ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh per annum
Role model: The credit for the great business growth behind five-star hotels goes to them.
Chief Engineer
Every luxury hotel or resort needs a technical hero to run smoothly, and that is the Chief Engineer.
They are supposed to work on the HVAC, plumbing, electric fixtures, elevators, etc. These heroes crop up whenever the technology issues arise.
Average pay: 20 lakh to 45 lakh rupees of salary per annum
Fact: It is not as discussed as this position is really crucial and paid well.
Summary
In case you are still considering that a career in hospitality and tourism is risky then think twice. It is not only a profession that pays well but has glamour, global publicity as well as endless thrilling opportunities.
Whether you become a hotel manager, wine expert or cruise director—your career can be a wonderful journey.
Do you want to make a career in this industry?
Christ College Of Education of Hospitality and Tourism offers several degree, diploma and certificate courses to give you in-depth knowledge of this field. Our courses like BHM (Bachelor in Hotel Management) and BTTM (Bachelor in Travel and Tourism Management) give you the opportunity to learn from industry experts, do live projects and prepare for your career.
Now is the time to think big, because the whole world can become your workplace.
Gaurav Tagore is a forward-thinking Director known for his impactful work in the education media space. He leads content that helps students make informed academic and career decisions while offering a window into real campus experiences. With a strong focus on clarity and relevance, Gaurav continues to be a trusted voice for student communities across the country.