Do you envision yourself running a hotel from the ground someday? A hotel manager handles a hotel’s daily needs inside and out. They manage the hotel’s budget, marketing, and staffing, as well as oversee various events, troubleshoot issues around the hotel grounds, and occasionally deal with hotel guest concerns.
Indeed, being a hotel manager means you get to work in a prestigious hotel, but it also entails a lot of responsibilities. Think you can handle that? Keep reading to learn their roles and responsibilities and how to be a hotel manager.
What Does a Hotel Manager Do?
A hotel manager oversees all the functions of a hotel or resort. They are responsible for maintaining the smooth operations of the different departments throughout the hotel to ensure optimal guest experience.
Here are the things that a hotel manager does:
- Managing budget and controlling hotel expenditures
- Tracking and analyzing hotel revenue and optimizing profits
- Plan sales and marketing strategies
- Connect with contractors and suppliers
- Supervise maintenance or renovation efforts
- Manage the department heads or a team
- Organize staff scheduling
- Recruiting and onboarding new employees
- Monitoring performance and providing ongoing training for employees
- Supervise events in the hotel or resort
- Meeting and greeting guests
- Handling concerns or requests and addressing complaints
- Managing the hotel’s reputation online and offline
Being a hotel manager entails both management and customer service, so it’s important to consider these when you start thinking about how to choose a course in college.
What are the Skills Needed for Hotel Managers?
Hotel managers need a wide range of skills to perform their roles effectively. What are the skills hotel managers need to succeed?
- Communication skills
- Analytical skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Leadership and management skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Negotiation skills
- Organization and time management
- Adaptability
The curriculum for BS in Hospitality Management, including the internship requirement, is designed to develop these skills in students. However, you also need to be purposeful about developing the necessary skills for hotel management.
You can also enhance your skills by building your knowledge and actively seeking tasks that require those skills.
How to Become a Hotel Manager: 8 Steps
Hotel managers are positioned higher up in the organizational chart, meaning it’s not an entry-level position. It may take years after graduation before you can be qualified for this type of position. However, knowing your professional goal can help you plan how to get into hotel management faster:
1. Complete ABM Strand in Senior High School
If you’re still young, it can be beneficial to start thinking about the career you want to pursue before entering senior high school. Since you’re here, we can assume that you do intend to work in hotel management.
Start your journey with the right SHS strand – the Accounting, Business, and Management strand. This strand develops students’ knowledge and skills in business, management, and finance. So, you can start honing your skills as a hotel manager before you even enter college. With an early start, you can excel in college, your first jobs in the hospitality industry, and be qualified when you apply for a hotel manager position.
2. Get a Degree in Hospitality Management
You can increase your chances of becoming a hotel manager by taking up Bachelor of Science major in Hospital Management.
This degree is designed to equip students with competencies in business management and hospitality services. Students learn about strategic management, financial management, human resources, and marketing – all of which are necessary for hotel managers. They also hone their leadership and communication skills.
Getting a diploma in Hospitality Management can help you prepare for the diverse responsibilities of hotel managers.
3. Complete Your Internship
Most college programs require an internship for all students. Internships allow students to immerse themselves in the field so they can get a feel for how the professional world of hospitality management works and learn practical skills.
If you’re studying hospitality management, you have a lot of fields to intern in, such as restaurants or catering companies. If your goal is to work as a hotel manager, aim for an internship in a hotel. This way, you’ll have experience specific to the hotel industry and earn the skills needed for a hotel manager.
4. Build a Network
A professional network is a group of people in the same or related fields who have built relationships. Building a professional network can help you improve your performance as a professional and access job opportunities.
Your network can exchange information about the industry, provide advice, and keep you updated on various events and opportunities. Having a network can help you find hotel management jobs and, if you’re a hotel manager, help you find and recruit the right people for your team.
Build your network starting from college, when you do your internship, and don’t stop networking even after you’ve become a hotel manager.
5. Gain Work Experience in the Hospitality Industry
Once you graduate, apply for a job in the hospitality industry, preferably in a hotel. Don’t expect to apply for a hotel manager position right away because these positions require at least five years of experience in the field.
Typically, professionals start with entry-level jobs and progress through various hospitality management degree jobs. Their experience should give them a solid knowledge of how the different departments in a hotel function, before qualifying for hotel manager.
6. Enhance Your Management Skills
So, you’ve learned various soft and hard skills relevant to the hospitality industry, what more do you need to do?
Supplement your experience in hospitality services with management skills to help you level up to a managerial position.
Improve your management skills by seeking out opportunities to lead in your workplace. These opportunities may include leading a small team to accomplish minor projects.
Alternatively, you can get certifications in hospitality management. Certifications can help you enhance technical skills so you can target the hotel management skills needed. For example, you can learn about leadership and management, financial management for hotels, or improve your knowledge of hospitality standards.
7. Apply for Hotel Management Positions
Once you have completed your education and work experience requirements, you may try your hand at a hotel manager position. Look for job openings at job boards and company websites, or ask your network.
Remember that you may encounter stricter expectations and competition when you’re applying for a managerial position. But don’t hesitate. Prepare as much as you can to increase your chances of success.
Before you apply, study the job posting and the potential employer and tailor your resume and cover letter for each one, making sure to highlight the strengths and skills you offer that match what they’re looking for in a hotel manager.
If you’re called for an interview, be professional. Prepare your answers to possible questions, learn about the hotel and the position, dress appropriately, and arrive on time. Then, show them what you’re made of!
8. Complete the On-the-Job Training Requirements
Although you’re well qualified for the role of hotel manager at this point, hotels usually require on-the-job training to help you become familiar with the ins and outs of the hotel – their procedures, policies, and company culture. This way, you’ll be in a better position to lead the team toward the hotel management’s goals.
Are You Ready to Take a Step Toward Becoming a Hotel Manager?
The hospitality industry offers a lot of potential for dedicated professionals. As you’ve seen, the steps on how to become a hotel manager involve getting a strong education background, work experience, and developing leadership skills. Now that you know what you need to do, it’s time to get started.
Start your journey toward becoming a successful hotel manager with flexible online education that offers a comprehensive and practical curriculum.
Send us a message today if you want to learn more about our hospitality management program.