OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Name: OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Availability: InStock

An Ofqual-regulated Level 7 qualification equipping tourism and hospitality professionals with advanced strategic, operational, and research skills to manage complex industry challenges and progress to Master's-level study.

Course Features

The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management is a prestigious, Ofqual-regulated postgraduate qualification comprising 6 mandatory units across 120 credits, designed for full-time, part-time, and distance learning delivery.

Qualification Number: 603/2316/4, approved and regulated by Ofqual
120 credits | 1200 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) | 600 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)
6 mandatory units covering strategy, destination management, policy, digital tourism, organisational behaviour, and research
Delivered face-to-face, via lectures, tutorials, seminars, distance, and online modes
Internally assessed by the centre and externally verified by OTHM; no written exams
Eligible for progression to Master's top-up programmes at universities in the UK and overseas

About This Course

The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management is designed to provide tourism and hospitality industry professionals with the specialist knowledge required to advance their careers, as well as for graduates entering the sector who wish to gain the competencies needed to manage complex business operations. The qualification offers a contemporary, critical, and internationally focused programme that fosters lifelong learning and managerial excellence.

Equivalent to the taught stage of a Master's degree on the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
Ofqual-regulated with Qualification Number 603/2316/4 and OTHM Ofqual Recognition Number RN5284
Sector Subject Area 8.2: Travel and Tourism
Designed for one academic year of full-time study; flexible for part-time and distance learners
Pass/Fail grading system based on achievement of all specified learning outcomes
Assessment exclusively by coursework — no formal written examinations

What You'll Learn

The qualification equips learners with a comprehensive set of advanced competencies across strategic management, destination operations, policy analysis, digital transformation, organisational leadership, and academic research within the tourism and hospitality industry.

Analyse strategic management and marketing approaches within tourism and hospitality organisations using relevant theories and models
Critically evaluate the role of destination management organisations and apply destination management planning frameworks
Assess international tourism policy, development theories, and the impact of global tourism on developing economies
Critically analyse the role of ICT and digital technology, including social media, OTAs, and e-commerce, in transforming tourism and hospitality operations
Evaluate organisational behaviour, cross-cultural management, leadership styles, and human resource management in international tourism and hospitality contexts
Design and conduct academic research projects using appropriate quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches relevant to tourism and hospitality management

Who Should Attend

This qualification is designed for professionals and graduates seeking to elevate their expertise in the global tourism and hospitality industry at a postgraduate level. It is particularly suitable for those who wish to advance into senior management or pursue further academic study.

Tourism and hospitality industry professionals seeking career advancement into senior or strategic roles
Graduates holding an honours degree in a tourism, hospitality, or related subject wishing to gain postgraduate-level knowledge
Managers with significant industry experience who wish to formalise and upgrade their qualifications
Individuals looking to transition into the growing tourism and hospitality sector from related fields
Those aiming to progress to a UK or international Master's degree or MBA programme with advanced standing
Learners who prefer a flexible study mode, including online, distance, or part-time delivery

Entry Requirements

Learners must meet the following official entry requirements as specified by OTHM before enrolling on this Level 7 qualification. Mature learners with significant management experience may also be considered at the discretion of the approved delivery centre.

An honours degree in a related subject, a UK Level 6 diploma, or an equivalent overseas qualification
Mature learners with substantial management experience may be considered — learners must check with the delivery centre prior to registration
Learners must be 21 years of age or older at the commencement of the course
English language competency evidence is required for learners not from a majority English-speaking country

Assessments

All units in this qualification are assessed entirely through internal coursework, with no formal written examinations. Assessment is conducted internally by the approved centre and externally verified by OTHM to ensure standards are maintained consistently across all delivery sites.

Coursework assignments of approximately 4000 words per unit, covering all specified learning outcomes
Criterion-referenced assessment based on the achievement of all specified learning outcomes and assessment criteria
Internal assessment by a qualified centre Assessor, with an audit trail of judgement provided
External verification of all assessment decisions carried out by OTHM to ensure quality and consistency

Progression

Successful completion of the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management opens a wide range of academic and professional progression pathways. As an Ofqual-regulated qualification at the same level as a master's degree, graduates are well positioned for advanced study and senior industry roles worldwide.

Progress to a Master's degree top-up (dissertation stage, 60 credits) at many UK and overseas universities with advanced standing
Progress to an MBA top-up programme at recognised universities in the UK and internationally
Pursue senior and strategic management roles within tourism, hospitality, destination marketing, and travel organisations
Advance into tourism policy analysis, international development, or public sector tourism management positions

Curriculum

Evolution of the strategic management approach in tourism and hospitality
Creating competitive tourism and hospitality businesses and destinations
Macro environment analysis using the DESTEP model (Demographic, Economic, Political, Ecological, Socio-Cultural, Technological forces)
Micro environment and strategic environment analysis
Strategic planning, vision, stakeholder analysis, and value chain analysis
Strategic choices for tourism and hospitality businesses and destinations
Strategy implementation and evaluation
Managing strategic change in tourism and hospitality
Strategic human resource management in tourism and hospitality
Social responsibility and business ethics in tourism and hospitality
Evolution of the strategic marketing approach
Tourist and guest buying, decision-making, and holiday behaviour
Tourism and hospitality marketing environments
Market segmentation, targeting, and positioning in tourism and hospitality
Tourism and hospitality product, pricing, distribution, and promotion strategies
Marketing international tourism destinations and e-marketing
Marketing planning, control, and evaluation
Strategic management and marketing trends in tourism and hospitality

Defining and analysing tourism destinations
The multi-scalar nature of destination management
The role of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) — promotion to tourists, businesses, investors, and stakeholders
Factors influencing the tourism destination management process
Stakeholder analysis in destination management
The public, private, and third sectors in tourism destinations
Transport and tourism destinations
The relationship between destination management and destination marketing
Community engagement and consultation
Sustainable development in tourism destinations
Destination Management Planning and resourcing
Evaluation of tourism destination management plans
Crisis management in tourism destinations

Theories of the state and approaches to tourism policy
Government involvement in tourism
Multi-scalar approaches to tourism policy (global, national, and local)
The policy-making process and tourism policy instruments
Stakeholders and interest groups in tourism policy
Tourism policy implementation and evaluation
Tourism policy and sustainable development
Theories of international development (modernisation, dependency, neoliberalism, alternative, post-development)
The role and relationship between tourism and international development
Role and influence of actors involved in tourism for development
The relationship between tourism and other development arenas
Issues in developing tourism in emerging economies
Responsible tourism and international development goals
Researching and developing project plans to address international development problems

ICT — definitions and key concepts in tourism and hospitality
The evolution of ICT in the tourism and hospitality industry
The contemporary role of ICT in tourism and hospitality operations
Digital Tourism: technology-supported supply and demand
Digital Tourism and accessibility
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and metasearch engines
Technology and the consumer — mobile tourism and wireless systems
ICT as a platform for B2C and B2B communications
Online distribution, multi-channel, and omni-channel strategy
Online marketing including Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns
Destination Management Systems and smart destinations
Tourists and technology — from GPS to virtual visitor guides
Technology and competitive advantage in tourism and hospitality
Social media and social networking in tourism and hospitality
Working with customer reviews and feedback
Security, data protection, and electronic commerce in tourism and hospitality

The structure of businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry
The evolution of management theory and significant contemporary management theories
The evolution of service industries and organisational goals and strategy
Corporate Social Responsibility in tourism and hospitality
Cultural approaches to management and cultural diversity in the workforce
Human Resources Management in the tourism and hospitality industry
Recruitment and selection in international tourism and hospitality organisations
Managerial work and management styles in the tourism and hospitality industry
Leadership in the tourism and hospitality industry and leadership styles
Organisational structure, motivation, and job satisfaction
Employee performance and group behaviour and performance
Conflict management in tourism and hospitality organisations
Theories of cross-cultural management and cross-cultural human resource management models
Cultural diversity concept and its implications for the tourism and hospitality workforce
International human resource management in tourism and hospitality organisations
Models of motivation and teamwork relevant to the tourism and hospitality industry

Research philosophy — ontology, epistemology, axiology, and rhetoric of research
Contemporary debates in social science and tourism and hospitality research
Research idea generation and carrying out a literature review
Approaches to research design, reliability, and validity
Role of research in the management and growth of tourism and hospitality organisations
Development of academic research in tourism and hospitality management
Quantitative research methods and techniques for the analysis of quantitative data
Qualitative research methods, coding and classifying qualitative data
Techniques for the analysis of qualitative data
Mixed methods research approaches
Sampling strategies and access to data
Research ethics in tourism and hospitality contexts
Planning and developing a research project plan
Analysing data using appropriate methodology (quantitative or qualitative)
Presenting research data for an academic audience and drawing conclusions
Writing up a research project in a tourism or hospitality management context