| Though the industry is likely to do well in the long | | | | decisions with grace and aplomb. They must have |
| term, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts | | | | a good sense of business and know how to |
| there won't be very much growth in the number | | | | promote their hotel through advertisements, |
| of jobs for hotel managers. A lot of new hotels | | | | promotional events and special offers. |
| will be economy class and extended-stay hotels, | | | | Twenty years ago, hotel managers came up |
| and these kinds of accommodations don't hire as | | | | through the ranks, usually starting out at the front |
| many managers as shorter-stay, more upscale | | | | desk. This is less likely today. An associate's |
| ones. However, increasing business travel and | | | | degree can qualify someone to be an assistant |
| domestic and foreign tourism will drive | | | | manager or manager of a small hotel, but in a |
| employment growth of hotel managers and | | | | large hotel, it's difficult to rise beyond assistant |
| assistants. | | | | manager without additional education. Most |
| Hotel and motels rent rooms to customers. | | | | department managers have a bachelor's degree, |
| These businesses need employees to clean | | | | preferably from a hotel-school program. These |
| rooms and check in guests. Larger hotels also | | | | programs usually require extensive internships, and |
| need employees to plan conferences, set up | | | | this is how future managers get their initial work |
| rooms for events, and prepare meals for guests. | | | | experience. Hotel executives often have |
| Hotel and motel managers oversee all these | | | | advanced degrees in a specialty or an MBA. |
| departments and make sure employees do good | | | | In chain hotels like Sheratons or Marriotts, new |
| work. Duties vary with the size and type of the | | | | managers, even those with hotel school degrees, |
| business. In small hotels and motels, one manager | | | | are usually put through a year-long management |
| may be in charge of all departments. In large | | | | trainee program before being assigned to an |
| hotels, each department may be run by an | | | | assistant manager position. |
| assistant manager. General Managers are in | | | | Because hotels are open around the clock, night |
| charge of the entire hotel. They often help create | | | | and weekend work is common. Many hotel |
| budgets, policies, and advertisements. They also | | | | managers work more than 40 hours per week. |
| may set room rates and fees. | | | | Managers who live in the hotel usually have regular |
| There are several types of assistant managers. | | | | work schedules, but they may be called to work |
| Executive housekeepers are in charge of the | | | | at any time. Some employees of resort hotels |
| workers who clean the hotel. They inspect the | | | | are managers during the busy season and have |
| hotel to make sure that all areas are clean. Front | | | | other duties during the rest of the year. |
| office managers are in charge of reservations and | | | | Salaries of hotel managers and assistants vary |
| room assignments. Food and beverage managers | | | | greatly according to their responsibilities and the |
| oversee restaurants and banquets. They plan | | | | segment of the hotel industry in which they are |
| menus, set prices, and order supplies. Convention | | | | employed. Managers may earn bonuses up to 25 |
| services managers coordinate all hotel activities | | | | percent of their basic salary in some hotels and |
| related to meetings. They meet with clients and | | | | may also be furnished with lodging, meals, parking, |
| plan schedules. Then they work with the food | | | | laundry, and other services. In addition to typical |
| service and front office managers to serve and | | | | benefits, some hotels offer profit-sharing plans |
| lodge the visitors. | | | | and educational assistance to their employees. |
| Assistant managers hire, train, and supervise the | | | | A well-run hotel or restaurant is the result of |
| members of their staff. They assign duties to | | | | carefully choreographed teamwork and specific |
| workers and schedule their shifts. They also solve | | | | knowledge and training in the administration of |
| customers' complaints and answer questions | | | | such places. A Master's degree in hospitality |
| about their departments. In addition, managers | | | | administration will prepare the student for a |
| write reports about their department. They also | | | | career in the aspects of the hospitality industry |
| order food or supplies and may negotiate | | | | that are nothing less than vital for the success |
| contracts with vendors. Assistant managers meet | | | | and growth of these kinds of businesses. The |
| and talk with the general manager several times a | | | | coursework is often quite similar to that |
| week. They also talk to other assistant managers | | | | undertaken by students in MBA programs, but in |
| when coordinating large events, such as weddings. | | | | this case they focus in on the hospitality industry, |
| In general, managers of small hotels and motels | | | | as opposed to other aspects of the business |
| have more duties than managers of larger | | | | world. Courses may include marketing, negotiation |
| businesses. This is because there are fewer | | | | techniques, asset management, entrepreneurship, |
| employees in smaller hotels and motels. Thus, | | | | systems analysis, and restaurant and spa |
| managers are likely to fill in for absent workers. | | | | development. |
| For example, managers may occasionally clean | | | | The Master of Science Program (MS) taking about |
| rooms, take reservations, check guests in and | | | | 1 1/2-year is geared toward hospitality |
| out, or make general repairs. Managers of small | | | | professionals who wish to continue their careers in |
| hotels and motels have many administrative | | | | an academic or research setting and is designed |
| tasks. They interview, hire, and train new staff. | | | | to help students develop solid graduate-level |
| They schedule laundry service deliveries and order | | | | research skills within a focused hospitality research |
| supplies. In addition, they keep track of income | | | | area. The majority of the student's course work |
| and expenses. | | | | is tailored to the student's area of hospitality |
| In short, hotel managers wear a million different | | | | research interest and academic and professional |
| hats and juggle a million different tasks. As | | | | background. Students plan their concentration area |
| managers who oversee the running of entire | | | | courses as well as thesis research with their |
| hotels or motels, they must have an incredible | | | | thesis committee. |
| eye for detail, enormous organizational ability, and | | | | If you are in high school, find out about CTE |
| lots and lots of energy. Initiative, self-discipline, | | | | courses in Hotel/Motel Marketing, Hospitality |
| effective communication skills, and the ability to | | | | Management, Hospitality Services and Travel and |
| organize and direct the work of others are also | | | | Tourism Marketing. These courses can lead to |
| essential for managers at all levels. | | | | hospitality skills certification from the American |
| In the course of the day, hotel managers face all | | | | Hotel & Lodging Association and the National |
| sorts of crises. They must make many quick | | | | Occupational Competency Testing Institute. |