Hotel Management: Job Description

A career in hotel management can be a passport to adventure worldwide. As global tourism and the travel industry continue to expand, the need for hotel and hospitality professionals grows along with it. What's more, it's a fast-paced career, well suited to the individual who likes to stay busy and meet new challenges every day.

Another draw for many would-be hotel managers is the opportunity to meet new, interesting people, as guests constantly check out and new ones check in. Hotel managers often say they seldom have an opportunity to be bored, as they must make snap decisions and resolve problems, oftentimes in a high-pressure environment. Whether you work in a vacation resort, a convention hotel, a motel, or a smaller vacation property, you're likely to meet challenges all day long involving satisfying guests' needs and managing facilities and staff.

Meeting guests' expectations can be demanding, so if you're easily rattled or impatient, it might not be the field for you. But if you enjoy the challenge of resolving travelers' issues and working hard to satisfy guests' needs, you should find a career as a hotel manager highly satisfactory.

Think a career in hotel management might be right for you? Here's some information on breaking into this exciting field.

The Business of Hotel Management

Hotel managers seek work in many types of facilities, from smaller properties including inns, lodges, and motels, to high-end resorts and five-star mega hotels. As you pursue your studies leading to qualifications for working in hotel management, you should research not only where you would like to be, but also the kinds of properties you think would be the best fit for your abilities. Each one will have different demands, with some requiring a high level of professional management experience and the ability to oversee large staffs and vast properties. Many beginning hotel managers prefer to start with a smaller property and develop their skills and experience as they move up the career ladder.

Some of the reasons you might want to become a hotel manager:

• Pay scale. Depending on the type and size of property you work for, you could earn a median of $49,720 a year, according to 2015 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Opportunity for growth. Many hotel managers start out at a hotel front desk and work their way up to general managers or go elsewhere in a hotel chain. Other opportunities might include working as a resident manager, front office manager, assistant manager, convention services manager, or executive housekeeper. Hotel managers may also progress to be promoted to executives.
• Job openings. The job outlook for hotel general managers is healthy, with an expectation that growth of 8 percent will occur over the next 10 years, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Quality of life. There are many perks involved with being a hotel manager, including sometimes living on site for free or at a reduced rate so that the manager does not have to commute and also needn't be out for living expenses. Generally, hotel managers can expect long hours and being on call at times, but most domestic hotels are considered to have pleasant and rewarding work environments.
• Opportunities for Travel. Hotel managers have an opportunity to relocate to interesting areas nationally and worldwide. They may also get to travel to seminars and conferences.

Preparing for a Career as a Hotel Manager

Generally speaking, a bachelor's degree in business administration should provide the basic education a hotel manager will need. Courses in accounting, marketing, business ethics, financial management, communications, strategic planning, human resources management, management information systems, and micro- and macroeconomics should give the potential hotel manager a good grounding prior to entering the field. In addition, the would-be hotel manager will profit from courses in kitchen management and food preparation, customer service, and facilities management.

Once you are hired as a hotel manager, depending on whom you work for, you may have to undergo additional training in safety procedures, corporate responsibilities, employee training, and health inspections.

Skills in business, customer service, and human resources help managers to provide guests with a pleasing experience, as well as to successfully coordinate staff members for the efficient operation of the facility. Hotel managers should also expect to develop skills in overseeing concierge services, conference rooms, and facilities management while managing staff, financial activities, and operation of daily services.

Does the idea of a fast-paced career as a hotel manager appeal to you? Then consider earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality Management from ECPI University to get the training you need. Call an admissions representative today and discuss your options.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Hospitality Management - Bachelor’s

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