The hotel industry is a fast-paced high-pressure environment that takes a whole network of workers and apartments to keep everything running smoothly serving a variety of purposes hotels have the opportunity to deliver a memorable experience to customers.
Here are the top 10 tips a bachelor of hospitality management student should know about when it comes to managing a hotel:
- Build a Supportive Team
As a hotel manager, you’re only as good as the team around you. Forming a great team around you is of utmost importance, which is why you should consider hiring people with the right skills, attitude and character that will help your team achieve your goals.
Focus on developing a company culture that reflects the goals of the company and connects with workers in a positive way. As you will learn in your Bachelor of Hospitality Management course, a compliment and smile go a long way to developing a positive team environment.
- Always Keep Learning
Hotel managers are often jack-of-all-trades because of their position. If you do not already have an attitude of being ready to learn and innovate, you need to work at developing it as quickly as possible.
It’s important to acquire a keen eye to spot problems and areas of weakness. This will allow your hotel to continue improving and ensure your ability to offer a satisfactory customer experience.
This skill cannot be taught in a Bachelor of Hospitality Management classroom but needs to be developed on your own.
- Greet Guests at Every Opportunity
Use every opportunity you have to give your guests the impression that you are on their side ready to ensure they have a great experience.
So whether you spot them at the hotel restaurant, lounging in the bar or are by the swimming pool, don’t hesitate to approach them and greet them with a smile. Politely inquire if their stay is comfortable and whether they would like help with anything else.
- Prepare Yourself for Emergencies
At any given time there may be hundreds of hotel guests and it is important to have a clear plan for emergencies. This includes procedures for evacuation which are clearly marked inside each room and also a communication plan for any type of emergency.
Since the availability of electricity is not always an option during these situations it is important to have a communication channel that is not dependent on electricity. A battery-powered portable PA system is the perfect option for the radio hailer.
It is also worthwhile investing in an emergency communication system which can communicate to a crowd of up to 5,000 people and record your emergency message so it can be played back amplified.
- Form Strategic Business Alliances
When running a hotel there is nothing as powerful as a mutually beneficial business relationship. It’s an important skill which Bachelor of Hospitality Management graduates need to develop when on the job. Brainstorm different partnerships that you can form and benefits that you can offer to the potential partner and then leverage them to your advantage. These could include offering coupons to guests which they could use at a local restaurant, discounts through tourist destinations or partnering with local universities and corporations, strategic business relationships can be a powerful way to ensure a regular flow of clientele through the hotel’s doors.
- Setting Boundaries
Being a hotel manager is at 24 hours a day seven days a week 365 days a year position and you need to make sure that you set boundaries so that your job does not become a burden.
You owe it to your family and friends to block out time and ensure you get sufficient rest. The consequence of failing to set boundaries is to be burnt out and not enjoy anything you do.
While a Bachelor of Hospitality Management is the perfect Launchpad for your hospitality career, once you get on the job, these are some of the important factors you need to remember and implement to progress in your role and ensure you enjoy every day that you spend in your job.
