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Hotel manager

Hotel managers are responsible for managing employees and for planning, marketing, co-ordinating and administering hotel services such as catering and accommodation facilities.

Over half of all hotel managers work in small hotels and motels on a self-employed basis.

Hotel manager job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Specific duties and the amount of customer or staff contact vary according to the size of employer: hotel managers in larger organisations may be mostly office-based, whereas managers of smaller establishments often have frequent contact with both customers and employees. Typical responsibilities include:

recruiting, training and supervising staff
managing budgets
maintaining statistical and financial records
planning
problem solving
promoting and marketing the business
ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation and licensing laws.

Rapid career progression is possible into higher managerial roles both within the UK and overseas. Promotional opportunities are generally best for employees who are willing or able to change job location, to specialise in one area such as marketing, sales or human resources, or to move into related areas of employment.

Typical employers of hotel managers

hotel chains
independent hotels and motels
residential clubs
resorts
inns
hotel and leisure groups.

Vacancies are advertised by recruitment agencies, in local and national newspapers and in publications including Caterer and Hotelkeeper, Hotel and Caterer, Hotel, The Caterer, British Hotelier and Restaurateur, Catering and Hotel Management and HCIMA News and Appointments. Networking and speculative approaches to employers are advisable.

Qualifications and training required

A hotel and catering management qualification combined with previous hotel, catering, retailing, waitressing or bar work experience is commonly required for entry into the profession. Graduates with non-relevant degrees must normally obtain a postgraduate diploma in hotel management or an extensive amount of experience. A management, languages, leisure or business studies, travel or tourism degree can be helpful.