Hospitality & Tourism

Bachelor of Hotels and Hospitality Management

The Bachelor of Hotels and Hospitality Management is a programme that prepares students for management careers in the hotel and hospitality industry. Offered at Maasai Mara University through the School of Tourism and Hospitality, the programme equips graduates with practical skills and theoretical knowledge for managing hotel operations and hospitality services.

The curriculum covers hotel operations management, food and beverage production and service, front office management, housekeeping and laundry operations, hospitality marketing, hospitality accounting, human resource management, hospitality law, food safety and hygiene, menu planning and costing, customer care and guest relations, research methods and strategic management. Students develop both practical hospitality skills and management competence.

Kenya's tourism sector is a major contributor to the national economy, with hotels and hospitality establishments requiring skilled professionals to deliver quality services. The programme responds to the demand for trained hospitality managers who can support the growth of Kenya's tourism industry and maintain international service standards.

The programme is delivered through lectures, practical sessions in training kitchens and restaurants, industrial attachment in star-rated hotels, field visits to hospitality establishments and a research project. Students gain hands-on experience through two industrial attachments in the hospitality industry.

Graduates pursue careers as hotel managers, food and beverage managers, front office managers, housekeeping managers, hospitality consultants, restaurant managers and event coordinators in hotels, resorts, restaurants, conference centres and hospitality establishments. They can also establish their own hospitality businesses or pursue postgraduate study in hospitality or tourism management.

Prospective students should have strong interpersonal skills, an interest in the service industry and a commitment to maintaining high standards of hospitality. The programme is suitable for students who want to combine practical hospitality skills with management knowledge for careers in Kenya's growing tourism and hospitality sector.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 250,000
Private, up to: Ksh 467,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Hotel Operations Management
Food and Beverage Production
Front Office Management
Housekeeping and Laundry Operations
Hospitality Marketing
Hospitality Accounting
Human Resource Management
Food Safety and Hygiene
Menu Planning and Costing
Strategic Management in Hospitality

Modules

11 in the programme

Introduction to Hotel and Hospitality
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces the hospitality industry, covering its structure, sectors, career paths and the role of hospitality in Kenya's tourism economy.
Principles of Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fundamental management principles including planning, organising, leading and controlling, applied to hospitality organisational contexts.
Introduction to Hospitality Accounting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Introduces accounting principles for hospitality businesses, covering financial statements, cost accounting and budgeting for hotel operations.
Front Office Operations and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers front office procedures including reservations, registration, checkout, room rate management and guest relations in hotel operations.
Food and Beverage Production
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Develops practical skills in food production, covering cooking methods, kitchen organisation, menu planning and quantity food production.
Housekeeping and Laundry Operations
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers housekeeping management including room cleaning, laundry operations, public area maintenance and housekeeping staff supervision.
Hospitality Operations Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines integrated hotel operations management, covering coordination between departments, quality control and operational efficiency.
Hospitality Marketing and Sales
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers marketing principles applied to hospitality, including market segmentation, pricing strategies, promotional campaigns and sales management for hotels.
Research Methods in Hospitality
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Equips students with research skills for investigating hospitality industry issues, designing surveys and analysing data for decision-making.
Strategic Management in Hospitality
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines strategic planning and management in hospitality organisations, covering competitive analysis, strategy formulation and implementation.
Research Project in Hospitality Management
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
An independent research project on a hospitality management topic, demonstrating the student's ability to investigate industry issues and present findings in a written dissertation.

Specialisations

Food and Beverage Management
Focuses on food production, restaurant management, beverage operations and culinary arts for careers in restaurant and food service management.
Rooms Division Management
Specialises in front office and housekeeping operations, preparing graduates for rooms division management roles in hotels.
Hospitality Marketing and Sales
Focuses on marketing, sales and revenue management in hospitality, preparing graduates for sales and marketing roles in hotels.
Event Management
Specialises in planning and managing conferences, weddings and events in hospitality venues.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on hotel operations management or hospitality marketing, followed by a practical session in the training kitchen or restaurant. Afternoon sessions may include front office simulation exercises, food and beverage service practice or a guest lecture from a hospitality industry professional. Students also participate in field visits to hotels and hospitality establishments to observe industry operations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's tourism sector is a major economic driver, creating consistent demand for trained hospitality management professionals.
The programme includes industrial attachment in star-rated hotels, providing practical experience and industry networking opportunities.
Hospitality skills are transferable globally, enabling graduates to pursue international career opportunities in the global tourism industry.

Against it

Hospitality careers often involve irregular working hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays.
The industry is sensitive to economic downturns, security concerns and seasonal fluctuations that can affect employment stability.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 91 hospitality & tourism courses

Public141k to 250k

141k at Kenyatta University250k at University of Nairobi

Private192k to 467k

192k at Kabarak University467k at Strathmore University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 141K, UoN 250K, Moi 204K/yr (eafinder, uonbi.ac.ke). Kabarak 192K, Strathmore 467K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke, shika.co.ke)

Students can access HELB loans, NGAAF bursaries and county government bursaries. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive subsidised tuition.

Funding options

HELB Loan
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Hospitality or Tourism from a recognised institution.

English or Kiswahili
C
Mathematics
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering theoretical course content.
Practical Examinations
Practicum50% of the mark
Practical examinations assessing food production, food and beverage service and front office skills in simulated hospitality environments.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment in star-rated hotels, evaluated by industry supervisors and university assessors.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
A final-year research project on a hospitality management topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Maasai Mara University, a chartered public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university accreditation.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Hotel Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages overall hotel operations including guest services, staff supervision, financial performance and quality standards in hotels and resorts.
Food and Beverage Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Oversees food and beverage operations in hotels and restaurants, managing menus, staff, costs and service quality.
Front Office Manager
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Manages front office operations including reservations, guest services, room allocation and revenue management in hotels.
Restaurant Manager
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages restaurant operations including service quality, staff scheduling, inventory, customer relations and financial performance.
Event Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Plans and coordinates events, conferences and functions in hotels, conference centres and event venues.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as hotel managers, food and beverage managers and front office managers in hotels, resorts and hospitality establishments across Kenya's tourism sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Hospitality management is just about cooking and serving food.
The programme covers comprehensive management including finance, marketing, human resources, strategic planning and operations management, preparing graduates for leadership roles in the hospitality industry.
Hospitality graduates can only work in hotels.
Graduates work in hotels, resorts, restaurants, conference centres, cruise ships, event management companies, hospitals, educational institutions and can also establish their own hospitality businesses.
The hospitality industry does not offer career growth.
The hospitality industry offers clear career progression from entry-level positions to general manager and executive roles, with opportunities for international careers in global hotel chains.
Hospitality is a low-paying industry.
Management positions in Kenya's hospitality industry offer competitive salaries, particularly in international hotel chains and luxury establishments, with additional benefits including accommodation and meals.