Hotel General Manager

Job Description

A hotel general manager is responsible for organising all the work which goes on in a hotel: reception, food service, bar service, room service, booking, budgeting, marketingand staff.The WorkYou could be:
• making sure all guests receive a high quality of service
• planning marketing campaigns
• planning budgets, setting sales targets and managing accounts
• analysing sales figures and producing reports
• recruiting, training and supervising staff
• meeting and greeting guests
• dealing with customers complaints and other problems
• organising building maintenance
• making sure that the hotel meets health, safety and security regulations and licensing laws.
In a small hotel you would look after the following areas yourself:
• housekeeping
• food and drink
• restaurant
• front office
• conferences and banqueting.
In a large hotel you would have departmental managers for these different functions.PayThe figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.
Most applicants for the post of hotel general manager have several years of experience already. Pay can vary over a wide range from 23,000 to70,000 a year or more. Some managers may earn moredepending on the size of the hotel and the quality rating.Conditions
• It is a demanding job, both physically and mentally.
• You will probably work shifts including evenings and weekends and hours can be long.
• You may have to take your holidays at certain times, when its off-peak.
• You might be on call when off duty.
• You might live in or near the hotel.
• You might spend nights away from home.
• Some hotels are in remote areas, such as parts of the Highlands and Islands.
Workforce Employment StatusLMI data powered byLMI for AllGetting InYou can enter hotel management in several ways.
• A degree (SCQF Level 9-10) or HND (SCQF Level 8) in hospitality and tourism management, hospitality management or a business related subject. For a degree course you usually need 4-5 Highers for entry and for an HND 1-2 Highers usually including English.
• A degree in an unrelated subject and then a postgraduate course in hospitality management.
• Gaining experience in various fields of hotel work and then getting promotion to management.
• Some hotel chains run trainee management programmes for graduates in a relevant subject.
• You may be able to enter through a Modern Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadershipat SCQF Level 7 orHospitality Management Skills at SCQF Level 8.
• Foreign languages are useful and a driving licence may be essential.
Hotels and guest houses are in virtually every Scottish town and city as well as in rural areas. There are luxury hotels which are part of an international chain and have restaurants, swimming pools, gyms and laundries.What Does it Take You need to have:
• excellent organisational skills
• excellent communication skills
• initiative and good problem solving skills
• business skills and an ability to work with a budget
• a polite and diplomatic manner
• assertiveness and negotiating skills
• sales skills
• resilience.
You need to be able to:
• manage and motivate others
• cope with stress and emergencies.
Training
• Training is mainly on the job.
• If completing a Modern Apprenticeship, you would study for theSVQ Hospitality Supervision and Leadership at SCQF Level 7 orthe SVQ Hospitality Management Skills at SCQF Level 8.
• You could study part time for qualifications offered by theInstitute of Hospitality, such asthe Level 3 Diploma and Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
• The Institute of Hospitality also offers continuing professional education (CPD) short courses.
Getting On
• Tourism is a growth sector in Scotland.
• There are good promotional prospects within hotel work although you might have to move to different locations.
• In larger hotels and chains you might specialise in training or marketing.
• You could consider self-employment.
• There are also chances to work abroad, particularly if you have foreign languages.
• Outside hotels, you could consider other forms of management, such as corporate or retailmanagement.

Keyskills :
hospitality financehotel managementguest service managementhotel contract negotiationhotel administrationhotel asset managementhotel financingfront office