Free Webinar — Apicius Armenia
July 19, 19:00 (Armenia time)
July 19, 19:00 (Armenia time)
Meet the Masterminds from Italy: Live Webinar
Speakers:
🇮🇹 Salvatore Procopio - Hospitality Manager, Apicius Florence
🇮🇹 Massimo Bocus - Director of Food and Wine Studies, Apicius Florence
🇦🇲 Katya Bredikhina - Head of Apicius Armenia
Speakers:
🇮🇹 Salvatore Procopio - Hospitality Manager, Apicius Florence
🇮🇹 Massimo Bocus - Director of Food and Wine Studies, Apicius Florence
🇦🇲 Katya Bredikhina - Head of Apicius Armenia
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APICIUS blog
7 Myths About Professions in Hospitality – and the Truth Behind Them
If you’re a parent helping your child choose their future profession, chances are you’ve heard of “hospitality” and wondered whether it’s a serious path-or just a backup plan for those who didn’t get into more “traditional” fields like law, finance, or medicine.
The truth? Hospitality is one of the most flexible, international, and fast-growing professional sectors in the world today. Yet many misconceptions persist, especially in post-Soviet societies like Armenia, where hospitality is still associated with waiters, room cleaning, or basic customer service.
It’s time to clear the air. Below, we break down seven common myths about hospitality professions-and explain why this field is not only respectable but also a smart, future-oriented choice for young people today.
It’s time to clear the air. Below, we break down seven common myths about hospitality professions-and explain why this field is not only respectable but also a smart, future-oriented choice for young people today.
Myth №1
«Hospitality is just for waiters and cooks»
Truth:
Hospitality is about international business, guest experience, culture, and leadership.
One of the most common misunderstandings is reducing hospitality to only restaurants or hotels. While chefs and waiters are certainly part of the industry, they are only the visible surface of a much larger and more complex world.
Today, hospitality includes hotel management, tourism development, event planning, wellness and spa operations, restaurant ownership, food entrepreneurship, cultural tourism, and digital guest experience. Professionals in hospitality lead teams, manage budgets, develop marketing strategies, and design customer journeys for major international brands.
So, no-this is not a “cooking course.” It’s a gateway to global careers in business, management, and innovation.
Today, hospitality includes hotel management, tourism development, event planning, wellness and spa operations, restaurant ownership, food entrepreneurship, cultural tourism, and digital guest experience. Professionals in hospitality lead teams, manage budgets, develop marketing strategies, and design customer journeys for major international brands.
So, no-this is not a “cooking course.” It’s a gateway to global careers in business, management, and innovation.
Myth №2
«There is no future in hospitality-it's a dead-end job»
Truth:
Hospitality offers clear career growth, high mobility, and entrepreneurial potential.
Unlike some careers where it takes decades to climb the ladder, hospitality is a field where young professionals can advance quickly-especially if they study at an international standard and speak foreign languages. A graduate may start as an assistant or intern, but within a few years, they can be managing departments, launching their own businesses, or moving into specialized areas like event production, wellness, or digital operations.
It’s not uncommon for hospitality professionals to work in different countries, build international networks, and move into leadership roles in their twenties. It’s a sector that rewards energy, creativity, and good communication-not just seniority.
It’s not uncommon for hospitality professionals to work in different countries, build international networks, and move into leadership roles in their twenties. It’s a sector that rewards energy, creativity, and good communication-not just seniority.
Myth №3
«Hospitality jobs are low-paid and unstable»
Truth:
While starting salaries can be modest, long-term earnings and stability are strong.
Like many careers, salaries in hospitality vary depending on experience, location, and role. Entry-level positions may start small, but the growth potential is significant-especially for those with international education and management training. In countries like the UAE, Switzerland, or Singapore, hospitality professionals earn highly competitive salaries, and even in Armenia or Georgia, there is a growing demand for skilled managers and consultants.
Moreover, the global tourism and hospitality industry is one of the most resilient. Even after the COVID-19 crisis, it rebounded strongly, and projections show millions of new jobs being created worldwide over the next decade. For skilled professionals, this means long-term job security and consistent career opportunities.
Moreover, the global tourism and hospitality industry is one of the most resilient. Even after the COVID-19 crisis, it rebounded strongly, and projections show millions of new jobs being created worldwide over the next decade. For skilled professionals, this means long-term job security and consistent career opportunities.
Myth №4
«This is not a prestigious field-it's not real education»
Truth:
Hospitality education combines business, communication, culture, and strategy-and is respected worldwide.
International hospitality schools are among the most respected educational institutions globally. Schools like Apicius (Florence), and now Apicius Armenia, train students in management, leadership, marketing, finance, service design, and innovation. Courses are rigorous, taught in English, and include real-world internships and projects.
In fact, many hospitality graduates go on to work in other industries such as luxury goods, real estate, tech startups, and international business consulting. Their education prepares them to deal with people, solve problems, and manage complex operations-skills that are useful far beyond hotels and restaurants.
In fact, many hospitality graduates go on to work in other industries such as luxury goods, real estate, tech startups, and international business consulting. Their education prepares them to deal with people, solve problems, and manage complex operations-skills that are useful far beyond hotels and restaurants.
Myth №5
«You have to leave the country to work in hospitality»
Truth:
The profession is in demand in Armenia and across the region.
While hospitality certainly opens the door to international careers, it’s also a growing field within Armenia and neighboring countries. With the rise of eco-tourism, boutique hotels, wellness resorts, and culinary tourism, there is a real need for well-trained professionals right here at home.
In Dilijan, Yerevan, Gyumri, and other regions, new projects are emerging that require modern hospitality knowledge-from hotel management and food production to tour design and cultural experience development. The sector is also supported by Armenia’s growing reputation as a tourism destination, which brings steady demand for trained specialists.
In Dilijan, Yerevan, Gyumri, and other regions, new projects are emerging that require modern hospitality knowledge-from hotel management and food production to tour design and cultural experience development. The sector is also supported by Armenia’s growing reputation as a tourism destination, which brings steady demand for trained specialists.
Myth №6
«It’s too risky-hospitality is affected by crises»
Truth:
The industry is resilient, adaptable, and constantly reinventing itself.
Yes, hospitality was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic-but so were healthcare, tech, education, and almost every other sector. What’s remarkable is how quickly hospitality bounced back, especially in countries that invested in digital transformation, health protocols, and experience innovation.
What this shows is that hospitality is not fragile-it’s flexible. Professionals who understand digital tools, customer psychology, and wellness trends are now in higher demand than ever. This is a field that constantly evolves-and those who are trained to lead that change will never be out of work for long.
What this shows is that hospitality is not fragile-it’s flexible. Professionals who understand digital tools, customer psychology, and wellness trends are now in higher demand than ever. This is a field that constantly evolves-and those who are trained to lead that change will never be out of work for long.
Myth №7
«My child should choose a ‘real’ profession like finance, IT, or law»
Truth:
Hospitality is a real profession-and one of the most flexible of all.
Hospitality is not second-tier. It’s a complex and sophisticated industry that intersects with nearly every other sector, including real estate, finance, health, sustainability, tech, and media. It teaches business fundamentals, human-centered thinking, and international etiquette-all of which are essential in today’s global job market.
Plus, hospitality education gives students multiple options. They can work in companies, start their own business, manage teams, or move between sectors. In a world where career paths are no longer linear, this kind of flexibility is a major advantage.
Plus, hospitality education gives students multiple options. They can work in companies, start their own business, manage teams, or move between sectors. In a world where career paths are no longer linear, this kind of flexibility is a major advantage.
What Should Parents Take Away From This?
If you’re a parent trying to guide your child toward a respected, successful future, it’s important to look past outdated stereotypes. Hospitality is not about carrying trays-it’s about leading teams, managing businesses, and creating experiences in a competitive, international market.
Today’s hospitality professionals are entrepreneurs, consultants, digital strategists, wellness experts, and cultural innovators. They work in Armenia and around the world, and they do so with purpose, intelligence, and pride.
Encouraging your child to pursue hospitality education-especially one rooted in international standards like the upcoming Apicius Armenia-is not settling. It’s investing in a profession with real potential, mobility, and relevance.
Let’s stop seeing hospitality as a fallback-and start recognizing it as a smart, global-first career choice.
Today’s hospitality professionals are entrepreneurs, consultants, digital strategists, wellness experts, and cultural innovators. They work in Armenia and around the world, and they do so with purpose, intelligence, and pride.
Encouraging your child to pursue hospitality education-especially one rooted in international standards like the upcoming Apicius Armenia-is not settling. It’s investing in a profession with real potential, mobility, and relevance.
Let’s stop seeing hospitality as a fallback-and start recognizing it as a smart, global-first career choice.