Career Path of a Vice President of Hotel Operations at a Hotel Casino
Tommy's career began immediately after high school, prioritizing work in Las Vegas hospitality over completing their UNLV degree, a path that led to a vice president of hotel operations position by age 34. The experience fueled a return to school to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology and pursue an MBA at UCLA, aiming for a chief operating officer role, demonstrating a commitment to both practical experience and academic advancement.
Hospitality, Career Advancement, Leadership, Higher Education, Work-Life Balance
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tommy Harris
Vice President of Hotel Operations
Large Hotel & Casino Brand
University of Nevada Las Vegas / 2022
UCLA / MBA - Expected graduation June 2024
Psychology
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Tommy's career began immediately after high school, prioritizing work experience over initial college completion. He rapidly advanced through various frontline roles in the hospitality industry, reaching a director-level position by age 24.
2. He later returned to college and earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
3. Tommy emphasizes his ability to climb the career ladder in hospitality without initially completing his degree, highlighting the value of practical experience, and then obtained his degree to propel his career further. He's currently pursuing an MBA, underscoring his ambition for even higher leadership roles such as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college and any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
My career path started right after I graduated high school. I grew up in Southern California and moved straight to Las Vegas because I always wanted to work in hospitality.
I attended UNLV for a couple of semesters and did an internship at a timeshare reservations company. While I was in school, my path took a different direction because work became my priority over school.
I put school on hold based on the progression I was making at work. At a very young age, I moved up very quickly. By the age of 24, I was a director over multiple departments and areas.
It wasn't until the last 24 months that I went back to UNLV and finished my bachelor's degree in Psychology. My interim period was spent working my way up from frontline positions, like front desk and auditor, all the way to Vice President of Hotel Operations.
I was able to achieve that position without a college education. Once I achieved that at the age of 34, I decided I wanted to obtain my degree because I wanted to excel even higher. I was able to do that, and I'm still in the position of Vice President of Hotel Operations. I'm currently in the MBA program at UCLA with the goal of becoming a Chief Operating Officer soon.