The hospitality industry in recent years has become intensely competitive. Better communication between industry professionals and educators is important for university programs to provide relevant learning experiences for students. The purpose of this study was to determine competencies that hotel and restaurant professionals deem necessary for the success of graduates in the industry. Thirty supervisors of hotel and restaurant management majors who graduated from the University of North Texas from 1990 through 1992 responded to the research questionnaire. The supervisors were given 36 competencies and asked to rate their level of importance. Percentages were used to identify the most important competencies. The skills most frequently identified as important by the industry professionals surveyed were leadership skills, professional ethics, personnel management, and understanding the different laws that affect hospitality operations and management.

This study was conducted to determine what regulations are, and should be, involved in opening and operating a bed and breakfast in the State of Texas. Specifically, this study examined bed and breakfast regulations in Texas to identify the existence of, or need for, standards related to various legislation (including, but not limited to, zoning ordinances, building and fire codes, and insurance requirements). Bed and breakfast owners/operators in Texas made up the random sample that produced 106 usable survey responses. Regulations are in place at the state, county, and city levels of government. Bed and breakfast owners/operators were most concerned about insurance related matters, and various aspects of effective promotion and advertising.