MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management in California

Imagine you’re planning a trip for the world’s most diverse friend group. There’s a sports nut, a foodie, and a real wine snob. You have one friend who’s always in designer everything and another who lives in their hiking boots. To make things a little more interesting, a few of them are even bringing their kids (who you love, but they can be a little… much). And by the end of the trip, you know you’re going to need a little beach therapy.

There’s really only one place in America where everyone can find something to enjoy: California.

In 2023 alone, travelers spent over $150 billion in California. But the Golden State’s hospitality industry doesn’t have to rely on waves of out-of-state vacationers to turn a profit. Every day of the year, Californians themselves enjoy nights out, day trips, and weekend getaways.

But while that means everyone from restaurateurs to Airbnb owners can make a killing, it also means the California hospitality industry can be both fast-paced and cut-throat.

The tech bros of Silicon Valley may think they have a monopoly on high-pressure jobs, but they’ve never run a summertime dinner service in Laguna Beach.

No matter which part of California’s hospitality sector you want to advance in, it’s going to take a lot of determination, creativity, and practical business knowledge. The determination part is all on you, but earning an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management can help you with the rest.

Why an MBA? An Overview of California’s Hospitality and Tourism Industry

California’s hospitality and tourism industry is extremely dynamic. While there are plenty of big-name hotel chains and tourist destinations around the state, there’s also plenty of room for entrepreneurs and small business owners to make a buck, too.

With an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management, you’re well-equipped to run in either circle.

For example, maybe you’ve been working at a hotel chain for a while and see yourself going up through the ranks as a general manager, kitchen manager, marketing director, or event manager. You have your day-to-day duties down pat. An MBA program can teach you the administrative skills you need to leap into the leadership side of things. The same is true if you’re in the restaurant industry, guided trips, or a similar vertical.

If you want to do things your own way, though, earning an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management can be just as helpful. California offers a number of tax credits, grants and other incentives to small businesses, but it takes a knowledgeable leader to leverage them to full effect. Over time, that can really make a difference — about 46% of small businesses in California fail within five years.

Hospitality, Service, and Tourism: The Perfect Sector for Entrepreneurs in California

Even if you’re motivated and optimistic, statistics about small businesses can be discouraging. However, if you want to give it a shot, California’s hospitality industry is the place to do it.

For one thing, California restaurants rake in about $150 billion in sales every year. 96% of them employ less than 50 people. They’re Michelin-starred bistros, bakeries, food trucks, and old school diners turned Americana icons like the Apple Pan in West LA. From authentic taquerias to trendy gastropubs, taking in the legendary California food scene is a top priority for in- and out-of-staters alike.

But up-and-comers in the California hospitality industry aren’t restricted to restaurants. The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA, a government agency dedicated to helping small business owners) website is full of success stories from adventure tourism agencies, wineries, and family farms that have successfully made the jump to full-scale tourist destinations.

And that’s perhaps the best part of earning an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism in California. You’re entering a community of like-minded entrepreneurs whose businesses are often more about complementing one another than being in competition. Disneyland and other internationally-known attractions provide some great career opportunities, but it’s the small businesses that keep people in California long after their Magic Key passes expire.

A Full List of MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management Programs, Online and at California Campus Locations

Whether you want to climb the ladder at a bigger organization or run your own hospitality business, earning an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management is a great way to take your career to new, exciting places.

Like other types of MBA programs, hospitality-focused MBA programs feature a wide variety of general business classes on skills like personnel management, accounting, and marketing. But businesses in the hospitality industry aren’t like other businesses. Your workforce and client base are likely to be much more diverse. And because your revenue can vary substantially from season to season, money and resource management can be a little trickier.

Fortunately, that’s the kind of stuff an MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management program covers. Common classes offered through this type of program include:

You’ll also likely take classes on specific sectors of the hospitality industry such as hotel or kitchen management. However, this part of the curriculum can vary by program.

For example, Sonoma State University offers an MBA in Wine Business where students learn about running wineries, vineyards, and other wine-related businesses that draw people from around the world to areas like Napa Valley. But at California State University, Long Beach, you can earn an MBA in Recreation and Leisure Studies which might be a better fit if you’re in adventure or general tourism.

Many MBA in Hospitality programs in California also feature hands-on internships and projects where you can work in your industry before graduation — a definite plus in such a nuanced market. To get you started on your own journey, here are some on-campus and online MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management programs to explore across California: