The Food and Beverage Manager plays a central role in the hospitality and restaurant industries. This professional is responsible for the complete management of all food and beverage operations within hospitality structures such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, and cruise ships. They combine managerial, operational, and interpersonal skills to ensure an excellent customer experience while optimizing costs and resources.
If your goal is to become a true leader in the sector, don’t miss the opportunity to train with the International Master in Food and Beverage Management at Rome Business School.
This is a highly diverse role. A Food and Beverage Manager must plan the department’s budget, control costs, and ensure the profitability of services. They also manage staff—from recruitment and training to supervising daily activities. Other responsibilities include coordinating with suppliers, managing procurement, collaborating with chefs to design menus, and ensuring compliance with quality and hygiene standards.
In day-to-day operations, they monitor service quality, gather and analyze customer feedback, and handle any operational issues. They continuously work to improve service efficiency, optimize inventory, and collaborate with other departments, such as marketing and sales, to promote events and initiatives related to food and beverage offerings.
Career opportunities are vast. A Food and Beverage Manager can work in luxury hotels, tourist resorts, restaurants, event venues, catering services, holiday villages, and even on cruise ships. In general, wherever there is a structured food service, this professional has a place.
Salaries vary depending on experience, responsibilities, and the work environment. Entry-level professionals may earn around €25,000–€30,000 per year. With experience and increased responsibilities, annual salaries can easily exceed €40,000. In more exclusive and international settings, earnings can reach over €100,000 annually.
Excelling in this role requires more than just knowledge of the food service industry. Strong leadership and personnel management skills, organizational spirit, problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication are all essential. A good command of foreign languages—especially English—is crucial, along with expertise in financial and strategic management. Knowledge of marketing and customer experience further strengthens the ideal profile.
If you’re looking to understand how these skills translate into real career opportunities, this article about The Food and Beverage Manager offers additional insight on how to turn your passion for food and hospitality into a successful career.
To pursue this career, it’s recommended to have a solid educational background in fields such as Hospitality Management, Tourism Economics, or Food Sciences. However, to acquire truly targeted skills, it’s essential to follow a specialized path. The International Master in Food and Beverage Management offered by Rome Business School is a concrete opportunity to train with an international, market-oriented approach rich in practical experience.
After completing your education, gaining field experience is essential—starting with operational roles and progressing to managerial positions. Earning professional certifications, such as those related to food safety or hotel management, can add further value and help you access top-tier job opportunities.
If you’re interested in exploring how the food and beverage market is evolving, we also recommend reading our in-depth analysis: Food sector in Italy. Consumption trends and business models.
