Hotel Management Career

Hotel management is a fun and exciting career, for applicants with college degrees in hotel management. Hotel managers have many responsibilities. They ensure that their establishment is efficiently and productively run. To do this, they have different responsibilities depending on job type and job title.

To have a career in hotel management, you must be a graduate in hotel management related program. Here, you can apply and progress to entry-level position as a trainee to be an assistant manager and from there you can work towards promotion to even higher managerial levels. Big hotel chains offer more opportunities for personal and professional advancement than smaller hotels because they have more departments and there exists opportunities to relocate to other hotels in the chain if there is a vacant managerial position.

Types, Description, Information

There are quite a number of specialized areas of hotel management besides the general or resident manager. These include Front Office Management, Marketing Management, Food and Beverages Management, Event Management or Co-ordination, Reservations Manager and Convention Services Manager.

Hotel managers must have a high level of communication and interpersonal skills for dealing with customers and effective management of their staff. You must be a good administrator with ability to keep meticulous paperwork and manage your time.

Qualifications: Courses, Training, Programs

Advanced schooling is a big asset and is often a necessity for most hotel management positions. It is also vital to have specialized training in hotel management. Technical and practical knowledge gained by experience is extremely important.

Hotel Management Schools, Colleges, Universities

Different educational institutes offer degrees in hotel management. Universities and Colleges often have programs to get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in restaurant or hotel management. Some technical schools, vocational schools and adult education programs as well have programs in hotel management. All these programs usually include courses in accounting practices, economic principles, administration, catering, marketing, maintenance engineering, food service management, housekeeping and using computers for billing, making reservations and managing housekeeping. Some of the top 5 colleges and universities offering courses in hotel management include:

• California Culinary Academy – San Francisco, CA
• Western Culinary Institute – Portland, OR
• Pennsylvania Culinary Institute – Pittsburgh, PA
• Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program at Brown College – Minneapolis, MN
• Hotel and Hospitality Institute of Chicago – Chicago, IL

Jobs, Opportunities, Salaries, Recruitment

The majority of hotel managers earn between $26,000 and $45,000 with a median earning of $43,000. These earnings differ based on level of responsibility, experience, type of establishment, and location. It is important to note that working nights and weekends is common among hotel managers. Salaries are usually supplemented by large bonuses and benefits like food, housing, and services provide by the hotel like fitness centers and laundry. A number of hotels give other benefits to employees like profit-sharing or compensation for education.