Hotel managers oversee the running of hotels, motels, and other lodging operations.
They are responsible for the day-to-day operation of their facility, and hold many responsibilities. They manage hotel staff and oversee housekeeping and maintenance, as well as plan budgets and field guest complaints. If a hotel is short staffed, the hotel manager will usually fill in wherever he or she is needed. Hotel managers not only manage their staff, but they hire, fire and set wages. They are also responsible for administering budgets, and organizing hotel renovations. The hours are long, and hotel managers are often on call 24 hours a day to handle emergencies of general problems.
Hotel management students with an associate’s degree are generally prepared for work in small hotels or motels as assistant manager or sometimes – even manager. However, to become a manager in a large hotel, you will need to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and preferably one from a hotel school program. Even with a degree, students should be prepared for extensive management training programs within certain hotel chains or specific properties. Part of your hotel school education will also most likely include extensive internships.
Hotel managers can often find themselves in a very hectic job. Hotels are open 24 hours a day year round, and mangers regularly work in excess of 40 hours per week. They often have to accommodate a large influx of guests during holidays or for conventions, which can cause a stressful work environment. Managers need to always efficiently coordinate check in and check out procedures to make sure the guests satisfied and happy.
Domestic and foreign tourism directly effect employment in the hospitality industry. The best jobs in this field will be open to highly educated and experienced hotel managers. The median annual earnings of hotel managers were approximately $50,000 in 2007.