What duties does a hotel manager perform?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 8:21 am
The tourism industry in Spain represents almost 13% of GDP and is a strategic sector that is constantly growing after the difficult years of the pandemic. In particular, accommodation structures have had to be renovated the most, also due to increased competition from tourist apartments. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE) , there were 13,851 hotels open in Spain in March 2024, 124 more than in the same month in 2023. In this scenario, the professional role of the hotel manager is becoming increasingly important and has more career prospects.
Duties of the hotel manager
The hotel director, or hotel manager , is the person in charge of managing and directing the establishment, both with regard to the staff that works within it and the creation of services to offer to customers. However, it is also his or her responsibility to manage the financial resources available to the company .
In small businesses, this position usually corresponds to the owner of the accommodation, while in hotel chains, luxury environments or those of a more international nature, the professional in question performs decisive functions at a managerial and business level , thus becoming the General Manager of the company, selected and appointed by the property.
The hotel manager receives specific instructions turkey whatsapp data from the company, both in terms of the guidelines to follow and the resources available. According to the parameters provided by the property owners, he is responsible for coordinating and directing all the activities necessary for the company to achieve its expected success and turnover objectives.
In general, this professional operates with a large margin of operational autonomy and seeks the most appropriate and profitable business strategies. If the hotel is not part of a large chain with a marketing office, it is also his or her responsibility to identify and manage communication campaigns useful for making the establishment known to potential new customers. At the same time, he or she may be directly responsible for creating loyalty activities to encourage the return of visitors from previous months.
Among the functions of the hotel manager, it is important to remember to control each of the services available to customers, to ensure that the expected quality standards are respected at all times. This figure is also responsible for coordinating the staff and, if necessary, can intervene in the search for new employees . Generally, he communicates with the heads of each department of the establishment, so that each of them can achieve its objective in an effective and efficient manner.
In medium and large hotels, the manager may be supported by the Assistant Manager and the Deputy Manager, who work closely with him to oversee the efficiency of each department of the establishment and the standard of services offered to visitors. In smaller hotels, however, this person has complete responsibility for every little detail. In fact, he may be the one to carry out more practical tasks, such as welcoming guests or entering their data into the system.
What to study to become a hotel manager?
Today, more than in the past, in an increasingly specialized world, a hotel manager must increase his technical skills through study programs, whether university or post-university , by attending in-depth and updating courses scheduled on an ongoing basis.
In particular, to access this career it is important to have completed a cycle of studies that includes a degree in Economics or Tourism Sciences, preferably integrated by professional courses or specific masters such as a Master in Hotel and Restaurant Management . Study or work experiences carried out abroad are decisive in the interview phase. This role is accessed, in fact, after having acquired previous professional experience in other roles within the hotel industry . Such as, for example, having been Head of Reception Services or Assistant Manager.
The skills required of a hotel manager are varied, although in some respects they are very similar to those of other company managers. This is especially true in terms of coordinating activities, managing subordinates and organising operational activities. However, this position is distinguished from others by its preparation in the regulatory , economic and control fields of all the sectors necessary to achieve the planned business objectives.
The digitalisation of bureaucracy and the introduction of artificial intelligence have also revolutionised the management of the hotel sector, to the point that no hotel manager can consider himself such without knowing how to use Property Management System (PMS) software with ease. This type of programme makes it possible to automate all the most repetitive activities; improve customer service by introducing chatbots; research consumer trends thanks to Big Data analysis ; and even monitor room maintenance once special sensors have been installed.
Hotel managers work in the tourism sector and therefore have a thorough knowledge (both spoken and written) of at least two or three languages . Among the transversal skills required for anyone wishing to perform this role, there is certainly organisational and managerial skills, but also a strong spirit of initiative and entrepreneurship. A leadership attitude is also of decisive importance.
Hotel managers must be able to maintain a professional atmosphere as far as possible, trying to keep their subordinates' motivation high and creating a well-coordinated work team. Finally, they must have good communication, diplomatic and problem-solving skills that can be used both with their employees and with customers.
Duties of the hotel manager
The hotel director, or hotel manager , is the person in charge of managing and directing the establishment, both with regard to the staff that works within it and the creation of services to offer to customers. However, it is also his or her responsibility to manage the financial resources available to the company .
In small businesses, this position usually corresponds to the owner of the accommodation, while in hotel chains, luxury environments or those of a more international nature, the professional in question performs decisive functions at a managerial and business level , thus becoming the General Manager of the company, selected and appointed by the property.
The hotel manager receives specific instructions turkey whatsapp data from the company, both in terms of the guidelines to follow and the resources available. According to the parameters provided by the property owners, he is responsible for coordinating and directing all the activities necessary for the company to achieve its expected success and turnover objectives.
In general, this professional operates with a large margin of operational autonomy and seeks the most appropriate and profitable business strategies. If the hotel is not part of a large chain with a marketing office, it is also his or her responsibility to identify and manage communication campaigns useful for making the establishment known to potential new customers. At the same time, he or she may be directly responsible for creating loyalty activities to encourage the return of visitors from previous months.
Among the functions of the hotel manager, it is important to remember to control each of the services available to customers, to ensure that the expected quality standards are respected at all times. This figure is also responsible for coordinating the staff and, if necessary, can intervene in the search for new employees . Generally, he communicates with the heads of each department of the establishment, so that each of them can achieve its objective in an effective and efficient manner.
In medium and large hotels, the manager may be supported by the Assistant Manager and the Deputy Manager, who work closely with him to oversee the efficiency of each department of the establishment and the standard of services offered to visitors. In smaller hotels, however, this person has complete responsibility for every little detail. In fact, he may be the one to carry out more practical tasks, such as welcoming guests or entering their data into the system.
What to study to become a hotel manager?
Today, more than in the past, in an increasingly specialized world, a hotel manager must increase his technical skills through study programs, whether university or post-university , by attending in-depth and updating courses scheduled on an ongoing basis.
In particular, to access this career it is important to have completed a cycle of studies that includes a degree in Economics or Tourism Sciences, preferably integrated by professional courses or specific masters such as a Master in Hotel and Restaurant Management . Study or work experiences carried out abroad are decisive in the interview phase. This role is accessed, in fact, after having acquired previous professional experience in other roles within the hotel industry . Such as, for example, having been Head of Reception Services or Assistant Manager.
The skills required of a hotel manager are varied, although in some respects they are very similar to those of other company managers. This is especially true in terms of coordinating activities, managing subordinates and organising operational activities. However, this position is distinguished from others by its preparation in the regulatory , economic and control fields of all the sectors necessary to achieve the planned business objectives.
The digitalisation of bureaucracy and the introduction of artificial intelligence have also revolutionised the management of the hotel sector, to the point that no hotel manager can consider himself such without knowing how to use Property Management System (PMS) software with ease. This type of programme makes it possible to automate all the most repetitive activities; improve customer service by introducing chatbots; research consumer trends thanks to Big Data analysis ; and even monitor room maintenance once special sensors have been installed.
Hotel managers work in the tourism sector and therefore have a thorough knowledge (both spoken and written) of at least two or three languages . Among the transversal skills required for anyone wishing to perform this role, there is certainly organisational and managerial skills, but also a strong spirit of initiative and entrepreneurship. A leadership attitude is also of decisive importance.
Hotel managers must be able to maintain a professional atmosphere as far as possible, trying to keep their subordinates' motivation high and creating a well-coordinated work team. Finally, they must have good communication, diplomatic and problem-solving skills that can be used both with their employees and with customers.