Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

This study determined factors influencing undergraduate hospitality students’ career intentions in the hospitality industry. A total of 360 hospitality students completed a survey that assessed career decision making, expected outcomes, and items focused on academic-related decisions and demographic background. Logistic regression analysis revealed that career intentions in hospitality were significantly associated with students’ gender, work experience, transfer status, and outcome expectations in the industry. Rewards most frequently reported by students focused on intrinsic outcomes of the industry (opportunities for career accomplishment and self-fulfillment). Implications are discussed for education and industry along with suggestions for future research.