Hotel and Lodging Managers are responsible for overseeing the operation of a hotel, motel, or lodging establishment. They are there to ensure that vacationing families and business travelers have everything that they need in order to enjoy their stay while visiting their hotel. It takes professionalism and experience to run a large establishment where hundreds of people come through a day. When a person can leave a hotel establishment happy, the hotel management and staff can be proud that they performed a job well-done.
Most hotel management jobs require or strongly prefer candidates with a degree or certificate in hotel management. Check out the programs below which offer free information:
Job Responsibilities
The job responsibilities for a hotel and lodging manager are many. They are responsible for the operation and the profitability of the hotel. They will schedule and direct house keeping to ensure that all rooms are cleaned, sanitized, and stocked with necessities. They will schedule and direct front desk staff to ensure that all reservations are correct, guests are being checked in and out correctly, paper work is performed sufficiently, continental breakfasts are set out every morning, and that the money comes out correctly for each shift. They are responsible for ensuring that the concierge and valet services are running smoothly. They are also responsible for directing office administration, marketing and sales, ordering office equipment, security, maintenance, and oversee recreational facilities. They hire and train staff members, and help out when needed. The job of a hotel and lodging manner is a full-time job where many managers are working over forty hours a week. Working nights and weekends are very common, and many hotel managers are on call.
Training and Educational Requirements
The training and educational requirements involved for hotel and lodging management depends on the type of hotel establishment that a person is looking to work for. If it is a large luxurious hotel chain, people will need an equivalent of a bachelors or masters degree and experience in order to get a position as a lodging manager for a large hotel. Some larger chains prefer a masters degree in business and hotel management before they will be considered. If a person does not have a degree, but has over ten successful years of managing a large hotel chain, they may be considered for a position. Smaller hotel chains will require at least an associates degree in business, hospitality, or hotel management, coupled with experience.
Salary and wages
The salary and wages for a hotel and lodging manager vary depending on the type of hotel and hotel chain a person is looking to work for. For smaller hotel chains, the starting salary starts at $28,000, and can go up to $34,000. For median hotel chains, starting salary is $46,000, and can go up to $62,000. Higher hotel chains can start at $84,000 a year. Hotel and lodging managers can also earn up to twenty-five percent in bonuses. They may also be eligible for extra perks, such as free laundry service, meals, and parking, and some hotels may offer profit sharing and educational assistance.*
*According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Certifications
If a person has a certificate of completion for hotel or restaurant management, plus experience, they may be considered for smaller hotel chains. Larger hotel chains may also offer advancement opportunities that involve relocation. The larger chains have more opportunities for career ladder programs that will allow a person to move up to a regional or central office position as a general manager. Each career level will need to be followed with certification programs that encompass course work, testing, and experience.
Professional Associations
There are several hotel and lodging management associations, such as American Hotel and Motel Association which represents the United States lodging industry, American Hotel and Lodging Association represents more than one million guest rooms, Hotel Booking Agents Association which represents hotel and conference bookings worldwide for hotels, bed and breakfasts, Inns, lodges, apartments, and suites, and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association represent hotels, resorts, airlines, cruise lines, car rentals, theme parks, and golf recreation activities.
Conclusion
Going on vacation is an adventure that takes people to far-off places to visit areas of the world they have never seen before. When a family leaves their comfortable homes to go on vacation, they are looking for a place that can fill the void of leaving all of their most precious things behind. While they are on vacation, they want a place that will make their stay enjoyable, stress free, and convenient. With the cost of airline tickets, and baggage, many people are forced to pack their things into one or two suitcases. Their only hope is that they will find all of the modern conveniences at the hotel they will be staying in. When they reserve a hotel room sight unseen, they are relying on the hotel staff to ensure that the rooms have towels, wash cloths, toilet paper, clean rooms, fresh made beds, soap, shampoo, coffee, cups, napkins, trash cans, phones, irons, blow dryers, televisions, remote controls, and condiments in order to have some semblance of the things they have left behind.
While running a hotel establishment, it takes a whole staff in order to create an atmosphere of a home away from home. Desk clerks, valets, concierge, and maids are the staff that helps a hotel run smoothly. The staff members need someone to oversee them to ensure that all things run smoothly.
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