| Resident or hotel managers are responsible for | | | | reservations, billing, and housekeeping |
| the day-to-day operations of the property. In | | | | management. |
| larger properties, more than one of these | | | | More than 450 high schools in 45 States offer the |
| managers may assist the general manager, | | | | Lodging Management Program created by the |
| frequently dividing responsibilities between the | | | | Educational Institute of the American Hotel and |
| food and beverage operations and the rooms or | | | | Lodging Association. This two-year program |
| lodging services. At least one manager, either the | | | | offered to high school juniors and seniors teaches |
| general manager or a hotel manager, is on call 24 | | | | management principles and leads to a professional |
| hours a day to resolve problems or emergencies. | | | | certification called the "Certified Rooms Division |
| Assistant managers help run the day-to-day | | | | Specialist." Many colleges and universities grant |
| operations of the hotel. In large hotels, they may | | | | participants credit towards a post-secondary |
| be responsible for activities such as personnel, | | | | degree in hotel management. |
| accounting, office administration, marketing and | | | | Lodging managers must be able to get along with |
| sales, purchasing, security, maintenance, and pool, | | | | many different types of people, even in stressful |
| spa, or recreational facilities. In smaller hotels, | | | | situations. They must be able to solve problems |
| these duties may be combined into one position. | | | | and concentrate on details. Initiative, self-discipline, |
| Assistant managers may adjust charges on a | | | | effective communication skills, and the ability to |
| hotel guest's bill when a manager is unavailable. | | | | organize and direct the work of others also are |
| Lodging managers are responsible for keeping | | | | essential for managers at all levels. |
| their establishments efficient and profitable. In a | | | | Persons wishing to make a career in the |
| small establishment with a limited staff, the | | | | hospitality industry may be promoted into a |
| manager may oversee all aspects of operations. | | | | management trainee position sponsored by the |
| However, large hotels may employ hundreds of | | | | hotel or a hotel chain's corporate parent. Typically, |
| workers, and the general manager usually is aided | | | | trainees work as assistant managers and may |
| by a number of assistant managers assigned to | | | | rotate assignments among the hotel's |
| the various departments of the operation. In | | | | departments—front office, housekeeping, or |
| hotels of every size, managerial duties vary | | | | food and beverage—to gain a wide range of |
| significantly by job title. | | | | experiences. Relocation to another property may |
| General managers have overall responsibility for | | | | be required to help round out the experience and |
| the operation of the hotel. Within guidelines | | | | to help grow a trainee into the position. |
| established by the owners of the hotel or | | | | Work experience in the hospitality industry at any |
| executives of the hotel chain, the general | | | | level or in any segment, including summer jobs or |
| manager sets room rates, allocates funds to | | | | part-time work in a hotel or restaurant, is good |
| departments, approves expenditures, and ensures | | | | background for entering hotel management. Most |
| expected standards for guest service, decor, | | | | employers require a bachelor's degree with some |
| housekeeping, food quality, and banquet | | | | education in business and computer literacy, while |
| operations. Managers who work for chains also | | | | some prefer a master's degree for hotel |
| may organize and staff a newly built hotel, | | | | management positions. However, employees who |
| refurbish an older hotel, or reorganize a hotel or | | | | demonstrate leadership potential and possess |
| motel that is not operating successfully. In order | | | | sufficient length or breadth of experience may be |
| to fill entry-level service and clerical jobs in hotels, | | | | invited to participate in a management training |
| some managers attend career fairs. | | | | program and advance to hotel management |
| Because hotels are open around the clock, night | | | | positions without the education beyond high school. |
| and weekend work is common. Many lodging | | | | Large hotel and motel chains may offer better |
| managers work more than 40 hours per week, | | | | opportunities for advancement than small, |
| and may be called back to work at any time. | | | | independently owned establishments, but |
| Some managers of resort properties or other | | | | relocation every several years often is necessary |
| hotels where much of the business is seasonal | | | | for advancement. The large chains have more |
| have other duties on the property during the | | | | extensive career ladder programs and offer |
| off-season or find work at other hotels or in | | | | managers the opportunity to transfer to another |
| other areas. | | | | hotel or motel in the chain or to the central office. |
| Lodging managers experience the pressures of | | | | Career advancement can be accelerated by the |
| coordinating a wide range of activities. At larger | | | | completion of certification programs offered by |
| hotels, they also carry the burden of managing a | | | | various associations. These programs usually |
| large staff and finding a way to satisfy guest | | | | require a combination of course work, |
| needs while maintaining positive attitudes and | | | | examinations, and experience. For example, |
| employee morale. Conventions and large groups | | | | outstanding lodging managers may advance to |
| of tourists may present unusual problems or | | | | higher level manager positions. |
| require extended work hours. Moreover, dealing | | | | Renewed business travel and domestic and |
| with irate guests can be stressful. The job can be | | | | foreign tourism will drive employment growth of |
| particularly hectic for front office managers during | | | | lodging managers in full-service hotels. The |
| check-in and check-out times. Computer failures | | | | numbers of economy-class rooms and |
| can further complicate processing and add to | | | | extended-stay hotels also are expected to |
| frustration levels. | | | | increase to accommodate leisure travelers and |
| Hotels increasingly emphasize specialized training. | | | | bargain-conscious guests. An increasing range of |
| Postsecondary training in hotel, restaurant, or | | | | lodging accommodations is available to travelers, |
| hospitality management is preferred for most | | | | from economy hotels which offer clean, |
| hotel management positions; however, a college | | | | comfortable rooms and front desk services |
| liberal arts degree may be sufficient when coupled | | | | without costly extras such as restaurants and |
| with related hotel experience or business | | | | room service, to luxury and boutique inns that |
| education. Internships or part-time or summer | | | | offer sumptuous furnishings and personal services. |
| work experience in a hotel are an asset to | | | | The accommodation industry is expected to |
| students seeking a career in hotel management. | | | | continue to consolidate as lodging chains acquire |
| The experience gained and the contacts made | | | | independently owned establishments or undertake |
| with employers can greatly benefit students after | | | | their operation on a contract basis. The increasing |
| graduation. Most degree programs include | | | | number of extended-stay hotels will moderate |
| work-study opportunities. | | | | growth of manager jobs because these |
| Community colleges, junior colleges, and many | | | | properties usually have fewer departments and |
| universities offer certificate or degree programs in | | | | require fewer managers. Also, these |
| hotel, restaurant, or hospitality management | | | | establishments often do not require a manager to |
| leading to an associate, bachelor, or graduate | | | | be available 24 hours a day, instead assigning |
| degree. Technical institutes, vocational and trade | | | | front desk clerks on duty at night some of the |
| schools, and other academic institutions also offer | | | | responsibilities previously reserved for managers. |
| courses leading to formal recognition in hospitality | | | | Additional demands for managers is expected in |
| management. In total, more than 800 educational | | | | suite hotels, because some guests—especially |
| facilities provide academic training for would-be | | | | business customers—are willing to pay higher |
| lodging managers. Hotel management programs | | | | prices for rooms with kitchens and suites that |
| include instruction in hotel administration, | | | | provide the space needed to conduct small |
| accounting, economics, marketing, housekeeping, | | | | meetings. In addition, large full-service |
| food service management and catering, and hotel | | | | hotels—offering restaurants, fitness centers, |
| maintenance engineering. Computer training also is | | | | large meeting rooms, and play areas for children, |
| an integral part of hotel management training, due | | | | among other amenities—will continue to provide |
| to the widespread use of computers in | | | | many trainee and managerial opportunities. |