What you are signing up for
Management of Visitor Attractions is the unit you will not find in the OTHM diploma, and it is why some learners choose this one: museums, heritage sites, theme parks and zoos are a distinct part of the industry with their own economics. Operations Management in Tourism and Resort Operations covers hotels and resorts, Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality Management addresses the industry's footprint, and Employability and Development in the Hospitality Industry is a career-planning unit that takes your own progression as its subject. Four units share 120 credits, so each is larger than the 20-credit norm.
With fewer units come longer assignments, and learners who enjoy building one substantial piece of work tend to prefer this structure. There is no dedicated academic writing unit, so ask LSPM how it embeds research and referencing support into the first unit. Compared with the OTHM Tourism and Hospitality Management diploma, this one has no events or services marketing unit and no industry history unit; it is more operational and more focused on attractions and resorts. Both are Level 4, 120 credits, from different awarding bodies, and neither confers industry body membership or a guaranteed university place.
The four units
- Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Operations Management in Tourism and Resort Operations
- Management of Visitor Attractions
- Employability and Development in the Hospitality Industry
Unit titles and credit values are taken from the Qualifi qualification specification. The order in which LSPM teaches them is set by LSPM and confirmed at enrolment.
Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality Management makes sense as the opener with study skills embedded, then resort operations, then visitor attractions, with the employability unit running across the programme and assessed at the end. LSPM confirms the order it uses.
Entry requirements
Qualifi sets the entry requirements for this qualification and LSPM, as the approved centre, applies them when it assesses your application. As published by the awarding body:
- demonstrated some ability and possess qualifications at Level 3, for example ‘A’ Levels or vocational awards;
- spent some time in an organisational role and shown they have capability and drive to develop;
- seeking further professional development and to gain work related skills and know-how.
Qualifi's stated entrants are Level 3 holders, people with organisational experience, and those studying for career development. Hospitality, tourism or attractions experience is not required but is common among the applicants we meet and makes the operational units far easier.
How you are assessed
Four extended written assignments, one per unit, including an operations analysis and a personal development plan. No exams; feedback on drafts is LSPM's to confirm.
Where it leads, stated carefully
Level 5 Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Qualifi, continuing the same route.
An application for second-year entry to a tourism, hospitality or heritage management degree, decided by the university.
Attraction operations, resort supervision, guest services management or destination roles.
We do not name partner universities on this page. If and when LSPM shows us a written progression agreement for this diploma, it will be listed here with the date it was signed.
Who it suits
Likely to get a lot from it
- Staff at museums, heritage sites and attractions who want a management qualification tied to their sector.
- Resort and hotel supervisors who prefer a few deep assignments.
- People planning a deliberate career move within tourism and hospitality, for whom the employability unit is the draw.
Better served by something else
- Anyone who wants an events management unit; the OTHM diploma has one and this does not.
- People who prefer many short assessments to four long ones.
- Learners wanting the aviation sector; see the Airline, Airport and Aviation Management diploma.
Asked about this programme
What does the employability unit involve?
A structured review of the industry's career paths, a skills audit against them, and a development plan for yourself, written up with evidence. Learners consistently rate it the most useful unit.
Qualifi or OTHM for tourism and hospitality?
Qualifi if you want visitor attractions, resort operations and a career-planning unit in four substantial pieces. OTHM if you want events, services marketing and a dedicated academic writing unit in six smaller ones.
Is the sustainability unit the same as the OTHM one?
The titles differ by a word and the ground is similar, but here the unit is larger and includes more on management responses. It is also where study skills are embedded, so it is a sensible first unit.
Read before you decide
Programme brochure
Brochure slot: PDF to be supplied by LSPM, with its fees, dates and tutor profiles for this programme. Ask us for it by email in the meantime and we will obtain the current version from LSPM.
Official specification
Qualifi Level 4 Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management specification, published by the awarding body. The authoritative source for units, learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Also listed on the Ofqual register under 603/4399/0.