OVERVIEW
What Is a Hotel Manager?
Hotel managers fall in the category of lodging managers. Lodging managers work in hotels, inns, RV parks, and bed-and-breakfast facilities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 59% of lodging managers work in traveler accommodations. About 31% of lodging managers are self-employed workers, and 2% of lodging managers work in RV parks and recreational camps.
Lodging managers who specialize in traveler accommodation are professionals in hospitality and can de-escalate sensitive situations, communicate with people from various backgrounds, and offer unwavering guest satisfaction. By leading teams of hotel employees, hotel managers ensure that every guest has pleasant interactions with every person working in the facility.
These industry professionals work closely with people, including guests, staff, cleaning professionals, and caterers. Their day-to-day activities may include organizing events for their guests and ensuring that the hotel offers everything the guests are looking for.
Hospitality management careers create passionate leaders able to handle difficult situations with a smile. There are many branches to hotel management, and each branch works together to ensure that every aspect of the hotel runs smoothly.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Hotel Manager Do?
A hotel manager’s day-to-day responsibilities may vary depending on the size, location, and age of the hotel and facility. A small hotel management team will work intimately with guests to ensure satisfaction, while a large hotel management team will delegate responsibilities to third-party service providers to reach and accommodate more patrons at one time.
Generally, a hotel manager will perform the following day-to-day responsibilities:
- Manage staff, including receptionists, catering services and kitchen staff, office employees, and cleaning professionals
- Oversee employee performance and professional evaluations
- Welcome guests as they arrive at the hotel
- Receive feedback from guests to improve customer service and hotel features
- Coordinate with travel agencies and suppliers
- Plan and organize hotel budgets
- Maintain correct records for financial and statistical purposes
- Ensure productivity of all staff members
- Promote marketing strategies to increase the hotel’s guests
Hotel managers will also manage and oversee the hotel’s compliance with health and safety laws, ensuring the protection of staff and guests at all times. Guest satisfaction depends largely on the managerial team’s effectiveness in providing a guest-oriented atmosphere.
Those in hotel management work full-time, and others are on-call 24 hours a day. Hotels are open 24-hours, meaning that there needs to be a manager on the clock at all times. Some hotels may hire multiple hotel managers to better meet the demand in their area.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Hotel Manager?
Hotel managers oversee hotel operations. They manage clients and visitors, collect payments, plan budgets, and ensure that the hotel staff performs with excellence.
These driven individuals work their way into management by working their way up, one promotion at a time. In other situations, hotel managers may begin a career by earning an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in a related field.
Once an individual becomes a hotel manager, they have a chance to improve the functionality and effectiveness of all processes in the building. Those interested in hospitality management may consider this career.
What Education Does a Hotel Manager Need?
Hotel managers should have a bachelor’s degree in business management or supply chain and operations management. This type of degree program will help give you important skills in budgeting, communication, and strategy. These skills are essential to success in a management position where your days are focused on keeping a business running smoothly.
Those interested in higher hotel management careers may consider earning a master’s degree in business leadership or even an MBA. Earning a master’s degree ensures that individuals have a wide variety of options open to them when they enter a hotel management career. This type of degree can set you apart and demonstrate that you have skills and experience that can propel you forward to higher positions in your career.
Best Degrees for a Hotel Manager
Business
Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:...
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé this program will teach you include:
- Business communication
- Product development
- Decision making models
- Project management strategies
- Budgeting for business
This online degree program is an excellent choice for kick-starting your organizational management career.
Business
Supply Chain and Operations Management - B.S.
This online supply chain and operations management program will prepare...
This online supply chain and operations management program will prepare you for real-world experiences in business.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish similar programs within 19 months.
- Tuition: $3,575 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
- Detail Oriented
- Management
- Leadership
- Operations:
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
Management and Leadership – M.S.
An online master's degree focused on change management, innovation, and...
An online master's degree focused on change management, innovation, and leading teams:
- Time: 60% of graduates can finish in 17 months.
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé that this program will teach you:
- Leadership
- Management
- Coordinating
- Communications
- Performance Management
- Planning
Develop a comprehensive suite of leadership skills and your confidence to navigate changing business structures.
Business
Leadership Certificate – School of Business
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the...
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the help of a leadership certificate from the School of Business.
- Time: 4 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $2,250 for the certificate.
- Courses: 3 courses total in this program.
This program is for emerging leaders, however this program does not require a bachelor’s degree, and provides transferable credit towards a WGU degree program.
Whether you aspire to work for a Fortune 500 organization, a government agency, a non-profit organization, or a fast-paced start-up, this certificate can give you the keys to success in a variety of industries, including:
- Finance and Banking
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- IT
- Consulting
- Nonprofit
- Government
Business
Supply Chain Certificate – School of Business
Boost your résumé and gain valuable experience with a supply chain...
Boost your résumé and gain valuable experience with a supply chain certificate from the School of Business.
- Time: 6 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $2,500 for the certificate.
- Courses: 4 courses total in this program.
This program is designed for individuals who are ready to take their supply chain experience to the next level and become a front-line leader in their organization.
Whether you want to advance your career in this field, or you're just getting started, a supply chain certificate can help you be ready for your next career step. You'll be prepared to work in a variety of industries including:
- Startups
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- IT
- Retail
- E-Commerce
How Much Does a Hotel Manager Make?
$56,670
According to salary.com, the median annual wage for CMs is $115,447 in 2021. The highest 10% of construction managers earn more than $164,900, while the lowest 10% earn $85,600 or less. Education, certifications, and on-the-job experience often play a factor in compensation
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
6%
Hotel management has an anticipated growth rate of 6% by the year 2026, and those with a bachelor’s or master’s degree are likely to see the best stability and opportunity in the field. As travel continues to boom and flourish, there may be increasing new opportunities and positions that open for those who are qualified to work in the hospitality industry.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Hotel Manager Need?
Hotel managers are highly skilled individuals capable of de-escalating intense situations. Some of the most important skills needed include:
- Conflict resolution. Often presented with difficult situations where clients and guests are frustrated or angry, hotel managers will be responsible for approaching these conflicts calmly and satisfying upset guests.
- Leadership. Hotel managers lead large teams of the hotel staff, and must lead by example.
- Organization. Hotels have guests constantly checking in, checking out, and making reservations. Managers must be able to stay organized to keep all information safe and organized.
- Diplomacy. Lodging managers must maintain diplomacy to ensure their staff is safe at all times and their customers are happy with their service.
- Team-building skills. Every member of a hotel’s staff is part of a team. The hotel manager is often seen as the glue holding different departments together.
- Communication. Managers must be able to communicate effectively to prevent miscommunication in a fast-paced field.
- Financial management. The hotel management team is in charge of large budgets and must be able to manage and delegate their budgets to different departments within the hotel.
Hotel managers should be eager to increase their knowledge and skills throughout their careers. Using business career resources can help lodging managers become more effective in their roles and increase the revenue that their hotel chain produces.
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
Next Start Date
{{startdate}}
Interested in Becoming a Hotel Manager?
Learn more about degree programs that can prepare you for this meaningful career.
