Reasons To Become A Hotel Manager

A hotel manager is one of the highest ranking in the business - Interior design of a luxury hotel

Updated On: May 07, 2024 by   Ciaran ConnollyCiaran Connolly

A hotel manager is one of the top roles within a hotel business. Becoming a hotel manager has a range of benefits and responsibilities. There are a few ways to become a hotel manager, including a route through education and a direct route through the hotel business.

There are many reasons to get a career in hotel management.

A Gateway to Diverse Career Opportunities

How to become a Hotel Manager

The hospitality industry is renowned for its versatility, offering a broad spectrum of career pathways for individuals passionate about service and management. Becoming a hotel manager is a gateway to exploring these diverse opportunities, from overseeing boutique establishments to managing international hotel chains. This diversity allows professionals to tailor their career trajectory to their interests, strengths, and aspirations.

Fostering Creativity and Innovation

Creativity and innovation are encouraged in hotel management and are often essential for success. Hotel managers are tasked with continually enhancing guest experiences, driving operational efficiency, and adapting to evolving market trends. This dynamic environment cultivates a culture of creativity, empowering managers to devise innovative solutions to challenges and differentiate their properties in a competitive landscape.

Fostering Entrepreneurial Spirit

While hotel managers operate within established frameworks and brand standards, they also possess a degree of autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom. This entrepreneurial spirit allows individuals to take ownership of their properties, implementing creative strategies to drive revenue growth, enhance profitability, and differentiate their offerings in the market. Whether exploring new revenue streams, forging strategic partnerships, or spearheading marketing initiatives, hotel managers have the autonomy to innovate and drive positive change within their organizations.

A Hotel Manager has a Love for Hospitality

Hotels are at the forefront of the hospitality industry. Other than hostels, friends and family or couch surfing, they are the only alternative to staying overnight in a new country or city.

If you love hospitality, a hotel manager role would be the perfect career. Not only would you have a career in the industry you love, but you would also be able to put smiles on the faces of people who can’t experience it daily, giving you a good sense of job satisfaction.

A businesswoman smiling at the reception desk of the hotel
A businesswoman smiling at the reception desk of the hotel

The Salary

Most of the time, being a hotel manager makes you the highest earner within the business, if not one of the highest earners. In the UK, the starting salary for a hotel manager is between £20-40K. This is similar to Ireland, where the average wage is said to be around €35K.

This is an excellent salary with the potential to rise if you stay in the job for several years.

Role and Responsibilities of a Hotel Manager

A manager has a higher role and position than all other staff, so there is much responsibility. A manager is responsible for the everyday running of the business. This includes offering guests customer service, maintaining the food quality, and maintaining the company, including reception areas and guest rooms.

They also need to manage the behind-the-scenes aspects of the hotel, such as finances, staff, the business’s brand, and administrative work. In large setups, this can be a daunting responsibility; therefore, they will need help. Assistant managers may be employed to assist the manager with all their duties.

An assistant manager can help with all the manager’s responsibilities with the manager’s oversight. However, they can’t make key financial decisions themselves without consulting the manager first.

Interior design of a luxury hotel
Interior design of a luxury hotel

In many cases, the assistant manager has more control and responsibilities with the staff and the running of the business. They will help create schedules and give responsibilities to other junior staff.

Having responsibility is great, but a manager also needs to be aware that if they don’t do a great job managing the business’s assets and maintaining the industry’s integrity, the company can suffer severely.

Diversity within the Industry

A great reason to work in the hospitality industry and become a hotel manager is the sector’s diversity and job. No two days are merely the same. A hotel has new characters coming in and out of the business daily. This is one aspect of the diversity within the industry, as you will be able to meet people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Another aspect of the job is the enormous business setup. A hotel has many departments, and it’s more than likely that each day, a new issue will appear. These issues are just challenges within the workplace, and getting over the hurdles is just one aspect of the job. For example, one day, there might be an issue with food delivery, but the next, it’s a software issue within the office.

Pursuing a Dynamic and Evolving Industry

The hospitality industry is in a perpetual state of evolution, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and global trends. This dynamic environment presents an exciting opportunity for aspiring hotel managers to be at the forefront of innovation and adaptation. Whether implementing cutting-edge technologies to enhance guest experiences or developing sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact, hotel managers play a pivotal role in shaping the industry’s future.

Further Career Prospects

The job of a hotel manager opens a door for better career prospects in the future. Due to all its responsibilities, it is a significant role that requires experience.

If you ever wish to further your career, you will have the experience. You could become a manager of many other businesses, whether it’s another hotel, restaurant or even a retail shop. You will also have the experience to open your own business if that’s what you want.

You could also take your experience to other destinations that need hotel managers. 

Achieving Financial Stability and Career Advancement

A hotel manager’s role offers intrinsic rewards and tangible benefits in terms of financial stability and career advancement. As managers ascend the ranks within the hospitality industry, they often command competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and comprehensive benefits packages. Moreover, successful hotel managers have ample opportunities for career progression, whether within their current organization or through lateral moves to other hospitality sectors or geographic regions.

Do You Love Hospitality?

Overall being a hotel manager is a fantastic role within the hospitality industry. You get to experience great responsibility in many different parts of a business. This is an experience that is taken elsewhere in the future. It is also a good-paying job role, so you will never be stuck with your finances.

Conclusion

The decision to become a hotel manager encompasses many factors, from a passion for hospitality and leadership to a desire for creativity, innovation, and career advancement. Beyond the allure of luxurious accommodations and glamorous facades, the role of a hotel manager offers a dynamic and rewarding career pathway filled with opportunities for personal and professional growth. As stewards of guest satisfaction, operational excellence, and industry innovation, hotel managers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of hospitality and creating memorable experiences that resonate with guests for a lifetime.

Being a hotel manager or a manager within the hospitality industry is one of the highest roles.

If you chose a career in hotel management, here are our tips in advancing your career in this essential hospitality field!