Hospitality Resources: Industry Research
Research the Industry
Do you know the trends affecting the hospitality industry? Are there government regulations that affect your ability to enter a particular industry? What are the top industry associations?
Here are some research questions to lean about the industry
- How is the industry (or sector) defined? What products or services does it deliver? What companies make up the industry/sector? How is the industry/sector distributed geographically?
- What is the history of the industry, and what is its current state? What are current trends, and what is forecast for the future?
- Who are the current and potential customers for the goods and services the industry provides? Where are they located, and what are their characteristics and needs?
- How large is the industry, and what are its key financial indicators? What is the shape of the competition? What is the size of the market and how is it distributed? How do domestic and international markets compare?
- How do outside forces shape or influence the industry?
- What is happening in the industry at this time? What current industry events, environmental changes, new products/services, or innovations are making industry professionals excited or concerned?
- How does the industry disseminate information about its activities? How does it influence public policy? Who are the leading spokespeople for the industry?
Identifying an Industry
Identify your industry. In order to perform more efficient research, you'll want a clearly defined industry to start with.
Try related terms for keyword searches, like "apparel" vs. "clothing." Databases may have different terms for the same or similar industry.
Use trade or professional associations as they often produce and publish helpful reports and data.
In the U.S., industries are classified according to the North American Industrial Classification Codes (NAICS). NAICS have replaced the former system, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. Many tools for researching industries make use of either the NAICS or the SIC codes.
Finding Industry Information
Industry Overviews
Vault: Industries and Professions
Vault is a major producer of career and business information. As a service, they provide free access to profiles of a wide variety of industries and sectors.
The Dun & Bradstreet Data Cloud, covers hundreds of millions of business records to discover insights about companies of interest to you.
This site for investors provides extensive profiles of industry sectors. From the Service Industry page, select either the Hotels and Leisure industry or the Restaurants industry for more detailed information.
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Industries at a Glance
Workforce statistics for the Hospitality Industry as a whole, or by NAICS sector.
From the Bureau of Economic Analysis, information about how industries contribute to the general economy. Be sure to check out the satellite accounts for Arts and Culture and for Travel and Tourism, which include information on spending, pricing, and employment.
Many trade organizations also provide a brief statistical profile or overview of their industry sector on their web site.
Industry Reports
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NAICS for the Hospitality Industry
| Industry | NAICS |
|---|---|
| hotels | 721110 |
| bed and breakfast inns | 721191 |
| residential clubs | 721310 |
| restaurants | 722511 |
| fast food | 722513 |
| catering | 722320 |
| taverns, bars, nightclubs | 722410 |
| travel agents | 561510 |
| passenger airlines | 481111 |
| cruise lines | 483112 483114 |
| tour management | 561520 |
| event facilities | |
| event management | 711320 |
| casinos | 713210 |
| casino hotels | 721120 |
| country clubs | 713910 |
| sports clubs & recreational facilities | 713990 |
| amusement parks | 713110 |
| nature parks | 712190 |
| guides | 713990 |
| excursion boats | 423910 |
| zoos and gardens | 712130 |
| museums | 712110 |
| historic sites | 712120 |
Trade & Professional Associations
Trade and professional associations are a major source of industry information. Here is a list of trade and professional associations connected to the Hospitality industry.
American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA)
Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII)
National Concierge Association (NCA)
International Executive Housekeepers Association
National Restaurant Association
New Jersey Restaurant Association
International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA)
National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)
Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA)
International Franchise Association (IFA)
American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)
International Flight Services Association
International Ecotourism Society
Club Managers' Association of America (CMAA)
American Gaming Association (AGA)
Meeting Professionals International (MTI)
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)
Association of Destination Management Executives International
Asian American Hotel Owners Association
Credits
This guide was developed by Leslie Murtha, Atlantic Cape Community College Libraries.
Published 2016. Updated January 2020.