Amin Deroui - Definitive Guide: How To Become A Hotel Manager What is a Hotel Manager? In much the same way as a shop manager will look after a shop floor team, a hotel manager will oversee several staff and ensure the day-to-day running of the premises is smooth and successful. You’ll be accountable when it comes to budgeting and finance management, and you’ll also be in charge of planning and directing anyone who works within the hotel. As well as ensuring budgets are met, then, you’ll oversee everyone from the front-of-house staff to the kitchen team. If you’re a hotel manager in a larger hotel, though, you may find you’re in charge of a particular area. You could be accountable for the smooth and hassle-free running of guest services, or you may even be predominantly in charge of marketing, for example. Each hotel manager is different, depending largely on the hotel chain or company they work for. Hours of Work As a hotel manager, what are your hours of work likely to be? Typically, hotel managers work a 9am to 5pm day, but there will be some evening and weekend work too. On top of this, you might also be expected to travel around the country to meet suppliers or corporate clients, too. Be aware that, as a hotel manager, you’ll spend much of your working week on your feet; it really isn’t a role for someone who wants to sit behind a desk all day. Instead, you’ll be in charge of everything from budgeting to staff recruitment. Main Responsibilities As a hotel manager, you’ll be responsible for any number of day-to-day tasks. These can include: Budget setting Forecasting the hotel’s income Building security Fire safety Marketing Licensing regulations
Booking events for corporate clients Dealing with customer complaints and queries Organising building maintenance work Managing staff Recruitment Organising catering Vital Hotel Manager Skills If you’ve considered becoming a hotel manager, you might have wondered what key skills or personality traits you might need to do well in the job. Here are just a few: Excellent communication skills Good customer service skills Budgeting skills Good marketing know-how A ‘people person’ Problem solving Passion and drive
Key Hotel Management Qualifications So, what qualifications do you need to be a Hotel Manager? Open to all graduates, as well as those with an HND, entering the hotel management industry can prove a wise move for anyone who enjoys dealing with customers. It’s also a rewarding job that offers plenty of scope for progression too. What is a Hotel Manager's Salary? Join the hotel management profession and you could start on £20,000. This could increase by up to £15,000, which means you could soon be earning up to £35,000 per year. Experienced hotel managers can earn between £40,000 and £50,000, with the highly experienced taking home £60,000 per year. While these figures are only intended as a guide, we hope they give you an incentive to make your mark in the industry. How To Become A Hotel Manager So, how do you become a Hotel Manager then? By now you might be wondering how you can become a hotel manager. The good news is there are no set requirements, and you can get into a career of this kind by simply applying for a place on a management trainee scheme. You may find these online, so do keep an eye out for relevant programmes or courses. How To Develop Your Hotel Management Career So, imagine for a second that you’ve been a hotel manager for some time – what next? Scope for progression is vital to any career-driven candidates out there – and you’ll find that your career prospects may depend on your experience and the size of the company you’re working for. Plus, if you’re willing to relocate to a larger chain with the aim of going into regional management, you’ll stand yourself in much better stead in the long-run. Ordinarily, you’ll be seen as a more attractive candidate if you possess an HND or degree in, say, hospitality. That said, other subjects may be accepted, or you might decide to work your way up to a hotel management position by starting from the bottom and putting the hours in.
Hone Your Communication Skills Good customer service skills are vital in a role like this. Hone them to absolute perfection by dealing with complaints efficiently and quickly, and by making sure you greet each and every guest. Keep hold of any good feedback that comes in via past guests, adding it to a folder; any evidence you have that you’ve provided good customer service will go down well in a future interview. Be Meticulous A great hotel manager is an organised one. You’re responsible for how well the hotel operates – and ultimately, how much money it makes – so it’s important that everything runs like clockwork. Pay attention to every detail – and ensure everyone’s doing their job to the very, best of their ability. Keep a close eye on the reception desk, the concierge team, housekeeping, catering, entertainment, reservations, and security. Make sure everyone knows what they’re doing; a well-oiled operation is always a successful one. Budget As a hotel manager, you’ll have to learn to budget. You’ll be setting everything from room rates to menu prices in your role, after all. Brush up on your maths skills and form a good rapport with food suppliers. Estimating the cost of food could well be a daily responsibility for you, so make it an enjoyable one and your job will never feel like a chore.