Have you ever wondered what a hotel manager does each day? The responsibilities of other hospitality roles, such as housekeeping and reception, are fairly obvious. But, those working within a hotel or other accommodation need leadership to guide the team towards running a successful establishment. That leadership comes in the form of a hotel manager. It is up to this person (or persons in some larger hotels) to ultimately keep operations running smoothly and guest satisfaction high. Through thoughtful leadership, a good manager ensures that both staff and those staying at the hotel are cared for and that all duties are performed to a high standard.

Daily Responsibilities of a Hotel Manager

An effective hotel manager knows what is going on in their hotel at any time. This includes knowing who’s on duty, any issues that have arisen with guests or staff, and keeping tabs on important guests to ensure they enjoy their stay. Most managers

Morning

Likely, most mornings begin with a quick check of the current status of guest stays, including monitoring the number of check-ins and check-outs expected that day as well as in the upcoming few days. An understaffed housekeeping team can prove to be a disaster, so ensuring you have adequate staff on duty based on these check-outs is crucial.

For those hotels offering breakfast service or buffets, this window of time is a great opportunity for managers to mingle with guests and ensure breakfast operations are smooth. Travelers often enjoy personally meeting (or at least seeing) managers as it gives them a face and name in case there are issues they need to bring up.

Before checkout time when housekeeping must start their rounds, hotel managers often host team meetings with some or all of the staff. These meetings provide an opportunity for managers to make announcements, field questions and concerns from the staff, and provide motivation for the continued hard work of those in the hotel. Even simply 10 minutes gives the team the chance to build relationships among departments and unite towards a common goal of an excellent guest experience.

Afternoon

Late morning to early afternoon is the busiest time for housekeeping. While cleaning staff are hard at work getting the rooms and rest of the premises ready for a new night of guests, the hotel manager can spend time with other departments or catching up on administrative duties. A quick check with the front desk can ensure that managers know of any VIP guests checking in that day. Doing so also gives them the chance to resolve any issues that made have occurred during checkout.

Evening

Generally, new guests start arriving to check in during the late afternoon hours. However, evening time is by far the busiest time for these new arrivals. Additionally, those guests who have stayed the previous night and have spent the day out likely return at this point as well. As so many people are arriving, the hotel manager is often found around the front desk or lobby area. This is an ideal opportunity to greet new or returning guests as they enter and act as an ambassador for the hotel. Also, this is the perfect time to check in with restaurant staff before the busy dinner service to ensure they are equipped with the staff and resources they need to carry out their service without issue.

What About Off-Duty Hours?

So, once Friday afternoon comes – a hotel manager checks out for the weekend, right? Not usually. Weekends are often the busiest times for hotels. Managers often opt to take their days off during the first part of the week, when occupancy at the establishment is lower. Being on duty over the weekend means that managers can tackle most issues that arise promptly.

Additionally, while managers do enjoy time “off the clock,” the job itself requires a certain willingness to be on call even when not at the hotel. Because a hotel manager is ultimately responsible for the overall operations and guest satisfaction, there are times when their expertise or authority is needed on an off-day.  

Achieving a Job as a Hotel Manager

There is a certain amount of pride associated with running a hotel and doing so successfully. However, most hotel managers don’t get to this stage in their career without putting in years of hard work in other hospitality roles first. Often, managers work their way up from the front desk or other customer-facing positions. The fact is, the hospitality industry is a team effort. So, managers must be willing to step into any role during times where it is needed. Because of this, having experience in similar positions before management is extremely helpful.

If you are looking to start a career in hospitality, potentially to work up to hotel management, it’s best to secure a role in the industry as soon as possible. While experience is valued, anyone can successfully perform most with dedication and a willingness to contribute to the overall team goals. Check out some of the available opportunities to find one that may suit your interests and strengths. From there, it is a matter of taking initiative and proving yourself on the job to secure those advancement opportunities.