Hotel Industry

It is a known fact that the Hotel Industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and is rapidly becoming a popular career option. But do you know what it is like to work in a Hotel? Find out below.

What are the jobs really about?

Ensuring Customer Comfort

The basic essence of any job in the Hotel Industry is to ensure and look after the comfort of the customer in all circumstances. Working for a Hotel basically comprises of a large number of operations that are to be carried out smoothly so that the customers have an enjoyable stay at the Hotel. The operations in the Hotel Industry comprise of a vast variety of jobs, including Customer Service Jobs (Receptionist, Front Desk Management, and Concierge etc.), Chefs, Bartenders, Maintenance Jobs, Event Planners, Inventory Managers, Salespersons, IT Jobs, Managerial Jobs etc. While working for a Hotel, you will be responsible for looking after or performing only a single part of these operations.

Find out about the different Careers in Hotel Management.

Working for a Hotel also includes jobs that are not a part of the operations and are common to all industries, such as Human Resource Team, Finance Team, and Marketing Team etc. However, the focus of this article will only be on the Operations of a Hotel, as that is where the majority of the jobs are available. 

Why do people work in the Hotel Industry?

Glamour

Most people who choose to work in the Hotel Industry are attracted by the glamour that comes along with working in a Hotel. Things like dressing up smartly every day, working in a beautiful and lavish environment, interacting with a lot of people, leading a dynamic life etc. all add to the glamour quotient of the job.

However, keep in mind that depending upon your job, the glamour quotient might vary greatly. For example, a Front Desk Manager who constantly interacts with customers and is the face of the Hotel might lead a much more glamorous life than a person who is responsible for looking after backroom operations like Inventory Management.

Good Pay, Low Qualifications

As compared to most other industries, the educational qualifications required to enter the Hotel Industry are not that stringent; a graduation in any field may be sufficient. The focus is on your communication and organizational skills. However, depending upon the reputation and policies of the Hotel, the academic requirements might vary. A big and reputed might only recruit candidates who have completed a graduation/diploma in Hotel Management, whereas a small Hotel might recruit candidates who have not even completed their graduation.

Find out about the Top 7 Careers That Require Little Education.

Considering the generally low academic requirements of the industry, the salaries in the Hotel industry are quite good. What you would be paid as a graduate or a Class 12th pass out in any other industry might be much lesser than what you would be paid in the good Hotels. However, there are variations and exceptions depending upon the job.

Find out about the Top 7 Money Making Careers.

Benefits

Working in the Hotel Industry has a lot of additional benefits. For example, you are eligible to receive a number of discounts on services that the Hotel or its partners provide. This includes getting cheaper rooms at hotels, cheaper food at all restaurants that are a part of the same chain, getting discounts on transport etc.

Professionals in the Hotel Industry often earn extra money on the side apart from the salary through the generous ‘tips’ given by customers. Additionally, many Hotels levy a ‘Service Charge’ on their services which is divided equally amongst the hotel employees. 

What is it like to work in a Hotel?

Odd Timings, Varying Schedules

The Hotel needs people to carry out its operations 24 hours a day throughout the year. But as one person cannot work throughout the day, you will be assigned a particular ‘shift’, specifying your work timings. You can be asked to work early in the morning, in the afternoon or late at night. Even once your shift has been assigned, it is subject to frequent and immediate changes. If need be, you might even be asked to work for long hours at a stretch regularly or report to work on holidays or festivals etc.

Find out about the Top 7 Fixed Hours Jobs.

Rude Customers

Like any other hospitality based job, working in a Hotel also involves constantly dealing with rude and angry customers. Out of the hundreds of services that a Hotel provides, a customer can be dissatisfied with any one and might even have unreasonable demands. As a Hotel employee, it is your job to pacify the customer and find a way through which his/her needs are met.

It is one of the biggest rules of the Hotel Industry is that no matter how rude or disrespectful a customer gets, the hotel employee should always be courteous and polite towards him/her. People who become successful in this profession are the ones who have the ability to understand a customer’s viewpoint, to not take his/her criticism personally, to keep their cool during a volatile situation and always be polite.

Multi – Tasking

While working in a Hotel, you would generally be required to perform a variety of duties at the same time, unlike other professions where your job description will be limited. For example, in the Hotel Industry, you might be required to ensure that a particular room is cleaned, that the buffet lunch is ready on time and that a particular customer is checked in into a deluxe room, all at the same time.

However, keep in mind that the degree of multi – tasking that you would be required to do depends on your job. Generally, it is the Front Desk Employees and the Hotel Managers who do the maximum amount of multi – tasking.

Team Work

As an employee working in a Hotel, you would generally be a part of a team which is responsible for looking after a particular aspect of the operations of the Hotel on a daily basis. You would be required to coordinate and adjust with others in your team so that your daily goals can be met and the operations can be carried out smoothly. This might involve working for long hours to cover up for a team member, share the blame/appreciation with everybody in the team, develop strong interpersonal relationships to promote harmony and coordination etc.

The ability to work in a team is absolutely essential for anybody who wishes to work in a Hotel. You will be required to always prioritize the goals and greater of good of the team rather than prioritizing your individual needs.

Growth Opportunities

Contrary to popular perception, working in a Hotel provides employees with a lot of opportunities to grow and succeed. As a Hotel employee, you might start off in an entry – level position, but if you possess the right skills and attitude, you can move into senior and supervisory roles and then go onto become the head of your operations team and eventually the General Manager or the Service Operations Manager of the Hotel.

Find out about the Top 7 Careers for Managers.

The employees who prioritize customer satisfaction and possess skills like hard work, team work, organization skills and interpersonal skills are the ones who are likely to succeed in a Hotel and grow professionally.

Dynamism

The atmosphere and work situation in a Hotel is never the same on two consecutive days. There is something new happening constantly; guests have to check in/checkout, rooms have to be cleaned, events have to take place, the restaurant needs to function properly, the gym needs to be working etc.

This makes working in a Hotel very dynamic and employees are constantly required to deal with unforeseen circumstances and problems. For example, an event that was supposed to take place in the garden area might need to be shifted indoors due to the rain or a customer might be dissatisfied with the room allotted to him/her. You must be prepared to deal with any problem that comes up and solve it to the best of your abilities in the shortest possible time.


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