6 reasons to get into hotel management

Hotel management provides a good mix of day-to-day business activities and customer service functions. Find out what else attracts people to this in-demand role and discover top tips for entering the industry

Fast growth, on-the-job training and career development opportunities are excellent reasons to consider a career in hotel management.

1. Early responsibility

As soon as you take up the role of hotel manager you will be responsible for every aspect of the hotel that you work for. From front-of-house departments such as reception and concierge services to housekeeping, maintenance and catering. Behind the scenes responsibilities include hiring staff, managing budgets, taking care of public relations and setting sales targets.

Because the hospitality workforce is generally young and staff turnover is quite high, promotion prospects are good for motivated graduates.

You will usually start as a graduate trainee and then move to assistant front-of-house manager or assistant food and beverage manager. From there it's up to deputy manager and then head of department. How quickly you get promoted to management level depends on the size of the hotel and your success as a trainee, but this can generally be achieved within two years.

2. Salary potential

Traditionally, salaries within the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors are lower than those in other industries. However, there are still certain roles in these sectors that can prove financially lucrative.

Starting salaries for assistant general managers range from £19,000 to £40,000 dependent on the size and location of the hotel. As a general manager of a small hotel or a deputy manager of a large one, you can expect to earn between £20,000 and £35,000. General managers working in large hotels in London can command average salaries of £85,000.

It's not all about salary and additional benefits can include a pension, private healthcare, shared-ownership schemes, live-in accommodation, meals on duty, clothing allowance or a uniform, a flexible working pattern and discounted hotel accommodation.

3. Interesting and varied

Continually welcoming new guests to the hotel means each day is filled with different challenges and requests and this keeps your working day interesting. With this comes the need to be polite, patient and diplomatic at all times in order to deal with the demands that guests have.

Opportunities within hotel management are endless and to make the most of them you'll need to be flexible. You could work for an independent or chain hotel, become a general manager or manage specific departments, and work in a variety of locations such as big cities or coastal areas. You'll get to meet and make connections with people from all over the world.

The need to be flexible extends to your working hours as hotel managers are often required to work erratic, unsocial hours. If you're after a standard Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm job, hotel management probably isn't for you.

4. Job satisfaction

As a hotel manager your job is about people, and you therefore need to be a people person. Your aim is to ensure that every guest's stay is as pleasant and enjoyable as possible and that the highest standards of customer service are met. In short, it's your job to make people happy.

Knowing that this has been successfully achieved through positive feedback and good reviews will bring you a great sense of job satisfaction and will spur you on to achieve even better results.

5. Creative input

In order to thrive and grow, the hospitality and tourism industries need creative people. To succeed as a hotel manager, you'll need to be able to come up with and implement new ideas on a regular basis, such as themed afternoon teas or guided tours, to improve the service you provide.

It often takes hard work to get new initiatives off the ground but since guest experience is a major part of a hotel's success, employers are generally open to creative suggestions, especially if they will enhance or improve the organisation's reputation.

6. The chance to travel

Hospitality, travel and tourism opportunities, including jobs in hotel management, exist in countries all over the world. If you work as a manager for a large chain hotel, you'll have the chance to travel not only locally and nationally, but also internationally.

Find out more

• Discover what you can do with a degree in hospitality management.
• Gain an insight into the hospitality industry.
• Learn more about travel and tourism courses.