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What Are the Different Types of Hotel Management Qualifications?
Hotel mangers are typically involved in the day-to-day operations of hotel-type establishments, which can include smaller motels as well as larger resorts. The particular responsibilities fluctuate depending upon the size and requirements of the company, and therefore, the exact hotel management qualifications vary also. In general, though, qualifications in hotel management include a degree or certificate in hospitality management as well as some experience in the industry. Many hotels also have their own in-house management and subspecialty training programs.
The sizes and styles of hotels, motels, and resorts vary widely. Some, like the privately owned roadside motels, are very small and have one or two general managers who take care of all operations. Others, like the large-chain hotels, have management positions that are divided into many categories, such as guest services, housekeeping, and events managers. Consequently, acceptable hotel management qualifications often differ.
With regard to qualifications for chain hotels and larger resorts, many require their managers to have college degrees in hospitality management. Numerous colleges and universities offer associate's, bachelor’s, and even master’s degree programs in the field. These courses of study usually include classes in business administration, accounting, and economics. They might also include specialized classes in areas such as food service and general maintenance.
While many of the larger hotels require college degrees, quite a few smaller hotels and motels accept certificates in hotel management. Certain colleges and trade schools offer these types of certificate programs both online and in person. The length of time it takes for a person to complete a certificate program typically varies depending upon where and when the course is taken. Like the college degree courses, these certificate programs focus on business management skills as they relate to the hotel industry.
Oftentimes, hotel management qualifications will include some amount of experience within the industry. In fact, some hotels might be less concerned with college education and more concerned with practical, hands-on experience when evaluating a person’s hotel management qualifications. Again, the degree of experience varies depending upon the specific requirements of the hotel, but most expect a manager to have at least one to three years working in the hotel or hospitality field in some capacity.
Regardless of what type of hotel management qualifications a person has, many hotels require potential managers to go through in-house management training programs. While outside education, training, and experience are helpful, each hotel generally has its own policies and procedures that every manager needs to be familiar with in order to be effective. Furthermore, as many of the larger hotels have divided management responsibilities according to department, a person might need to be trained in the specific duties associated with his or her particular position.
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![Hotel managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a hotel.]()
By: Dmitrijs DmitrijevsHotel managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a hotel. -
![Some large hotels divide management into different categories such as housekeeping.]()
By: CreativaSome large hotels divide management into different categories such as housekeeping. -
![Some hotels provide on-the-job training for potential hotel managers with leadership qualities.]()
By: BerniSome hotels provide on-the-job training for potential hotel managers with leadership qualities. -
![Hotel managers should be knowledgeable about their facility's features.]()
By: poplasenHotel managers should be knowledgeable about their facility's features. -
![A manager at a luxurious property may assign individual attendants to cater to guests.]()
By: Harry HUA manager at a luxurious property may assign individual attendants to cater to guests.
Discussion Comments
The article talks about how many hotels have their own management programs. I know a couple who joined a motel chain as managers.
The husband had owned a small business and had worked as a tobacco buyer. The wife had never worked outside the home, but she handled the finances of the home and had been the primary caregiver for the couple's children.
Anyway, the motel chain hired the couple as a management team based on the experience I mentioned. They went through the company training program and then began work. They worked for the company for about 15 years until they finally retired for good.
When I was in college I spent a couple summers working at a family owned resort. The owner's sons and daughters helped him run the resort and the family also ran another hotel that was not part of the resort. They all had graduated from college or were in college, but none of them had ever studied hotel management.
In place of classroom learning, they had practical experience. All of them began working in the family business at young ages. They worked in every aspect of the business. They cleaned rooms, checked in guests, worked in maintenance, worked as wait staff in the restaurant, cut grass and on and on.
I asked one of the daughters why she didn't major in business administration or hotel management in college. She said that she and her siblings were going to spend the majority of their lives working in hotel management. The last thing they wanted to do was study it in college. College was their opportunity to study something they enjoyed.
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