Hotel Management

A satisfied customer; we should have him stuffed, joked the best-loved hotel manager of all time: the fictitious Basil Fawlty. The humour of this statement is born from its truth; running a hotel can involve crises as well as calm, and disgruntled customers along with gushing clients.

It is a role that involves a great deal of hard work, late nights and early mornings; a good hotel manager is always available. A skilled manager is always in demand, especially considering the steady growth of the leisure and tourism industry. The hotel business is constantly evolving and expanding, with numerous complexes aiming to provide for every demand. From a crazy golf course to a nightclub that stays pumping to the wee hours, the need for effective management has never been more necessary.

One way to start a career in the hotel industry is to work as a waiter/waitress, desk clerk or room cleaner. This will give you invaluable insight and experience in the workings of a hotel to what working in a hotel. A higher-level education course will compound this experience and provide the qualifications that will advance you in the industry.

Education
Due to the practical skills needed to success in the industry work experience plays a big part of hotel management courses. Students generally take work placements for a minimum of six months to get hands-on experience and training.

Course options that prepare school leavers for careers in the hotel industry include Hospitality Management, Hotel & Restaurant Management and Hotel & Catering Management. There is a choice between honours degrees (level 8) and higher certificates (level 6), with a CAO points’ requirement of around the 200 – 300 mark. There are also a large number of further education courses available in the hotel management and hospitality area, and the institutes of technology provide several Fáilte Ireland courses.

Courses include a combination of vocational and theoretical training. Academic subjects include Management, Economics, Marketing, IT and Hospitality Law. You should also learn technical, supervisory and independent problem-solving skills. Some courses will also give you a thorough grounding in subjects such as front office and reception techniques, accommodation services, food preparation, food and beverage service and bartending.

Other course options for people interested in the hospitality area include Tourism, Event Management and Culinary Arts Management.

Options after Qualification
Graduates of most third-level hospitality or hotel management courses are usually entitled to membership of the Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI) and the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA).

People with third-level qualifications in the hospitality sector generally work as hotel managers, but there are also plenty of opportunities in other sections of the hospitality and tourism industries, including restaurants, adventure centres, tourist agencies and corporate hospitality.

Hotels often like their executives to have experience in the nitty-gritty side of running a hotel, so graduates often gain experience in each element of the hospitality business before becoming senior managers.

The Work
Depending on the size of the hotel there can be a number of different managers, such as the restaurant manager, the accommodation manager, the front office manager, and so on. Each with their own range of responsibilities.

Day-to-day tasks for hotel managers can include co-ordinating a team of other managers and senior staff, planning the hotel budget, deciding on menus, dealing with important or troublesome guests, interviewing and training new staff, planning advertising campaigns, overseeing facilities, improvements and repairs and liasing with other tourism professionals such as travel agents, tour reps and local tourist authorities.

As well as managerial positions, the expansion of the hotel industry means that there are also a variety of executive positions open to graduates who, for example, may gain very responsible positions working for a large international hotel chain.

Personal Qualities & Work Environment
A ‘courage under fire’ type personality will be invaluable in this sector. Hotel managers often need to be equipped to deal with difficult and unforeseen situations, therefore resourcefulness will be of great assistance. 

In general, a good business sense and computer skills are helpful. Good communication skills are a necessity, while having a foreign language is also advantageous.

The basic working week for hotel managers of all descriptions is 40 hours, but this can be spread over night shifts, bank holidays and weekends. Sleepless nights are likely. Managers sometimes live in the hotel, so they can be on call at all times. There can be excellent opportunities for travel and many hotel managers gain experience in a number of countries before settling down.

The Money
Salaries vary depending on your duties and the size of the hotel, but in general you should start out on upwards of €20,000 as an assistant manager in a particular department. The general manager of a large hotel can expect to earn between €43,000 and €57,000.

Jargon
Concierge: a person who has charge of the entrance of a building and is often the owner's representative; usually in charge of special services for guests, like arranging theatre tickets or tours. 
Rack rate: is hotel jargon for standard, non-discounted room rates that anyone can reserve
Sommelier: Someone who orders and maintains the wines sold in a hotel or restaurant and usually has extensive knowledge about wine and food pairings
Star Ratings: A classification system (one to five) of hotels based on facilities provided; no internationally agreed system exists
Motel: A hotel that provides rooms and free parking to travelers, typically located at the side of a main road

Job Titles
Hotel Manager
Restaurant Manager
Accommodation Manager
Front Office Manager
Head Waiter
Sommelier

Further Resources
The Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI)
8 Herbert Lane
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 662 47 90
Web: www.ihi.ie
Email: info@ihi.ie

Fáilte Ireland
88-95 Amiens Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 01 855 6555
Web: www.failteireland.ie
Email: info@failteireland.ie

Shannon College of Hotel Management
Shannon International Airport
Co Clare
Tel: 061 712 210
Web: www.shannoncollege.com

Irish Hotels Federation
13 Northbrook Road
Dublin 6
Tel: 01 497 6459
Web: www.ihf.ie
Email: info@ihf.ie