Hotel Uniforms

A Career In Hotel Management

Occupations related to hotel management can be found in the food, hospitality and tourism industry. In most cases, hotels or motels are integrated with coffee bars, restaurants, clubs and spa centers. In which case, having a career in hotel management does not mean that it will be limited to managing the hotel since a prospective manager can be assigned to a specialized area such as the restaurant, coffee bar, club, etc. Depending on the functionality of the management job, hotel management occupations are very important for the proper operation of hotel establishments.

Hotel or Motel managers handle the organization and control hotel operations. They are responsible for providing guest accommodation, meals and other such services. Current trends in the market indicate that hotel management is a good prospect for a career for forty and above gents and ladies. These managers usually have an average weekly earning of US$ 800, of which in a year will be about US$ 38,400. Not much, but enough to have a fine living and luxury.

Tasks Of A Hotel Manager

A hotel manager is primarily task to oversee reservation, reception, room service and housekeeping activities in the hotel. Reservation activities usually involve guest requests for reservation of a particular room, in which, the room has to be checked if free for accommodation. The reception area also serves as the information area where guests can inquire for available rooms for accommodation as well as other special requests. The room service includes bellhops and bell boys in service of the hotel guests. Room service, on the other hand, entails the delivery of luggage to the assigned room as well as granting special requests of guests such as hot water, etc. House keeping activities, on the other hand, is the job of housekeepers. Activities include arranging the beds of each rooms, changing towels and collecting trash.

A hotel manager also plans and supervises entertainment activities held at the hotel. The hotel manager must be creative enough as to be able to continuously offer entertainment to his guests. Hotels usually have different strategies in order to enliven the spirits of their guests. Sometimes, prizes are at stake in such games or entertainment held at hotels, which may be in the form of free one night accommodation or free accommodation vouchers in some hotels under the same management.

A hotel manager also supervises the security arrangements, as well as maintains garden and hotel properties. Usually, the security arrangements would require the hiring of a security manager who is well knowledgeable in security matters. Garden and hotel properties that need to be maintained and kept are electric floor polisher, vacuum cleaners, and other necessary maintenance equipment for hotel fixtures and furniture. The hotel manager also have to plan and supervise all the activities in the bar, restaurant, conference and function rooms, and ensure the compliance of the hotel with existing and current occupational health and safety regulations.

The hotel manager must also oversee the accounting and purchasing activities of the hotel. In reality, the hotel have a number of managers which can include a food service manager, club manager, reception manager, security manager, etc. So basically, any of these occupations can be categorized as a career in hotel management.

Food Service Management

Food service managers are tasked to oversee and supervise the preparation and presentation of the food. Usually, food service managers are present in hotels, restaurants and other similar establishments. They maintain the quality and quantity of the food and ensure the satisfaction of the guests and customers. They are also reactionary to customer feedback and modify what needs to be changed in the recipe of the menu items.

The food service manager is also responsible for the monitoring of the stocks of raw materials and must ensure that the raw materials are being used economically as well as effectively. He also makes sure that the hotel or restaurant is complying with the current health and fire hazard standards.

Club Management

Club managers organizes and directs the operations of licensed clubs including the provision of food, liquor, entertainment and other similar amenities for members. Although current market trends reveal an average prospect for club management as a job, it has always been part of hotel management and will always be attractive for job seekers.

Health Club Management

Health club managers supervise and coordinate the activities of the health staff at health clubs or physical fitness gyms. They are responsible for planning the exercise programs for the members, selling membership contracts and providing instructional guidelines on physical fitness for the customers. The physical fitness facilities usually include weight loss programs, yoga centers, aerobic classes, sauna rooms and day spas. Nowadays, martial arts instruction classes are also included.

Major duties performed by the health club managers include interviewing, hiring and training of new employees. He will also have to assign and adjust the work schedules of employees to be able to meet the demands of the customer. Programs on weight control and body building are drafted and sold to health club customers. Aside from demonstration of the proper operation of exercise equipment, health club managers conduct a special class that includes yoga, aerobics, martial arts, etc.

Public Relations Manager

Public relations manager are tasked to interact with hotel guests or customers, extract their feedback and provide solutions appropriate to their problems while they are staying in the hotel. They must have above average people skills to be able to be a successful public relations manager. Most of the time, he will have to face complaining guests or customers who are usually irate already, so he must be ready to calm down tense nerves by being polite and accommodating. He will also have to face the media about concerns or issues worthy of media attention.

In the event of having a famous star as guest, the public relations manager is the one who must find ways to shield the guest from the media or from other people. To such people, privacy is a very expensive commodity and therefore is a valid cause for disappointment with the hotel if ever a guest feels that his or her privacy is being pried upon.

© 2005, BEST BUY UNIFORMS a division of COMMERCIAL TEXTILES CORPORATION.
All Rights Reserved.
The names, logos, taglines and icons identifying Best Buy Uniforms Online products and services are proprietary marks of BEST BUY UNIFORMS. All other trademarks and servicemarks are property of their respective owners

*e-mail steve@bestbuyuniforms.com for permission to use this article.

Hotel Career

Hotel staffs provide a variety of services to guests and must do so efficiently, courteously, and accurately.

Employment of hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks is expected to grow faster than some other occupations in the industry as responsibilities become more numerous and some of these workers take on tasks previously reserved for managers.

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks perform a variety of services for guests of hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments. They register arriving guests, assign rooms, and check out guests at the end of their stay. They also keep records of room assignments and other registration-related information on computers. When guests check out, desk clerks prepare and explain the charges, as well as process payments.

Front-desk clerks always are in the public eye and typically are the first line of customer service for a lodging property. Their attitude and behavior greatly influence the public’s impressions of the establishment. They always must be courteous and helpful. Desk clerks answer questions about services, checkout times, the local community, or other matters of public interest. Clerks also report problems with guest rooms or public facilities to members of the housekeeping or maintenance.

In the smaller places, desk clerks may perform the work of a bookkeeper, advance reservation agent, cashier, laundry attendant, and telephone switchboard operator.

Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks deal directly with the public, so a professional appearance and a pleasant personality are important. A clear speaking voice and fluency in English also are essential, because these employees talk directly with hotel guests and the public and frequently use the telephone or public-address systems. Good spelling and computer literacy are needed, because most of the work involves use of a computer. In addition, speaking a foreign language fluently is increasingly helpful, because of the growing international clientele of many properties.

Formal academic training generally is not required so many students take jobs as desk clerks on evening or weekend shifts or during school vacation periods. Most employers look for people who are friendly and customer-service oriented, well groomed, and display the maturity and self confidence to demonstrate good judgment. Desk clerks, especially in high-volume and higher-end properties should be quick-thinking, show initiative, and be able to work as a member of a team. Hotel managers typically look for these personal characteristics when hiring first-time desk clerks, because it is easier to teach company policy and computer skills than personality traits.

General Managers have overall responsibility for the operation of the hotel. They allocate funds to departments, approve expenditures, and ensure expected standards for guest service, decor, housekeeping, food quality, and banquet operations.

Resident or hotel managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the property. In larger properties, more than one of these managers may assist the general manager, frequently dividing responsibilities between the food and beverage operations and the rooms or lodging services. Assistant managers help running the day-to-day operations of the hotel. Assistant managers may adjust charges on a hotel guest’s bill when a manager is unavailable.

An Executive Committee made up of a hotel’s senior managers advises the general manager, assists in setting hotel policy, coordinates services that cross departmental boundaries, and collaborates on efforts to ensure consistent and efficient guest services throughout the hotel. The Committee may be comprised of the department heads for housekeeping, front office, food and beverage, security, sales and public relations, meetings and conventions, engineering and building maintenance, and human resources.

Executive housekeepers ensure that guest rooms, meeting and banquet rooms, and public areas are clean, orderly, and well maintained. They also train, schedule, and supervise the work of housekeepers, inspect rooms, and order cleaning supplies.

Front office managers coordinate reservations and room assignments, as well as train and direct the hotel’s front desk staff. They ensure that guests are treated courteously, complaints and problems are resolved, and requests for special services are carried out.

Convention services managers coordinate the activities of various departments in larger hotels to accommodate meetings, conventions, and special events. They meet with representatives of groups or organizations to plan the number of rooms to reserve, the desired configuration of the meeting space, and banquet services. During the meeting or event, they resolve unexpected problems and monitor activities to ensure that hotel operations conform to the expectations of the group.

Food and beverage managers oversee all food service operations maintained by the hotel. They coordinate menus with the Executive Chef for the hotel’s restaurants, lounges, and room service operations. They supervise the ordering of food and supplies, direct service and maintenance contracts within the kitchens and dining areas, and manage food service budgets.

Catering managers arrange for food service in a hotel’s meeting and convention rooms. They coordinate menus and costs for banquets, parties, and events with meeting and convention planners or individual clients. They coordinate staffing needs and arrange schedules with kitchen personnel to ensure appropriate food service.

Workers in cleaning and housekeeping occupations ensure that the lodging facility is clean and in good condition for the comfort and safety of guests. Maids and housekeepers clean lobbies, halls, guestrooms, and bathrooms. They make sure that guests not only have clean rooms, but have all the necessary furnishings and supplies. They change sheets and towels, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, empty wastebaskets, and mop bathroom floors. In larger hotels, the housekeeping staff may include assistant housekeepers, floor supervisors, housekeepers, and executive housekeepers. Janitors help with the cleaning of the public areas of the facility, empty trash, and perform minor maintenance work.

Sales or marketing directors and public relations directors oversee the advertising and promotion of hotel operations and functions, including lodging and dining specials and special events, such as holiday or seasonal specials. They direct the efforts of their staff to purchase advertising and market their property to organizations or groups seeking a venue for conferences, conventions, business meetings, trade shows, and special events. They also coordinate media relations and answer questions from the press.

Hotel managers, general managers, lodging managers, executive housekeepers, catering managers, cleaning and housekeeping workers and resort desk clerks are just a few careers developed in the hotel industry.

© 2005, BEST BUY UNIFORMS a division of COMMERCIAL TEXTILES CORPORATION.
All Rights Reserved.
The names, logos, taglines and icons identifying Best Buy Uniforms Online products and services are proprietary marks of BEST BUY UNIFORMS. All other trademarks and servicemarks are property of their respective owners

*e-mail steve@bestbuyuniforms.com for permission to use this article.