Hospitality and Tourism Jobs and MBA Programs in Oklahoma

Those looking for careers as hotel managers should consider the educational and employment opportunities in Oklahoma. With the national projections showing a rise of just four percent over the next 10 years, the prospects in Oklahoma are better relative to the nation as a whole. In general, hotel managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.

Oklahoma photo by Nyttend

State figures show that hotel managers in Oklahoma earn $13 per hour or $28,000 per year on average. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is $25 hourly or $52,000 per year on average.

Oklahoma, nicknamed the Sooner State, has seen its population grow 6.9 percent to 3,687,050 over the last decade. Oklahoma City is the state capital. In 2008, the total number of jobs was 2,206,469 and the average annual income in Oklahoma was $35,969, which is up from $34,298 the previous year. Unemployment increased to 6.4 percent in 2009, a jump of 2.7 percentage points from the previous year. The number of residents with a college degree is 20.3 percent, which is under the national average.

Shipping container manufacturing, pump manufacturing, oil field machinery manufacturing and all other industrial machinery manufacturing are the top employing fields in Oklahoma.

One of the many things Oklahoma is known for, Turner Falls Park in Davis is the oldest park in Oklahoma. Many springs from the world famous Arbuckle Mountains form Honey Creek that cascades down a seventy-seven foot fall to a natural swimming pool making the majestic Turner Falls the largest waterfall in Oklahoma. Oklahoma has many unique characteristics, but one fun fact in particular is Anadarko is home to the only authentic Indian City in the United States. It is located in the beautiful Washita river valley in southwest Oklahoma.

Hospitality and Tourism

Hotel managers plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.

They regularly inspect guest rooms and grounds for cleanliness and appearance. They also participate in financial efforts such as the setting of room rates, budgets, and allocation of funds to departments.

They are required to pay attention to ongoing situations and monitor them as they develop. Also, they must note the reactions and responses of others in both work and social situations.

Hotel managers should be able to listen to and understand others in meetings and read and understand documents and reports.

In order to be successful in the workplace, hotel managers must believe in cooperation and coordination and have strong self control in the face of challenging situations.