What are careers in hotel management?

Careers in hotel management include hotel general managers, marketing managers, and restaurant managers. General Manager The general manager of a hotel oversees the daily operations. It is their responsibility to maximize the use of services while keeping quality. It is their job to make the most profitable decisions. The general manager collaborates with the department managers to keep the hotel running efficiently. The general manager is part of all of the collaborative departments. Marketing Manager Marketing managers are responsible for planning and supervising marketing strategies. It is their job to maximize profitability. Their goal is to continually bring awareness to the brand. They are also responsible for keeping customers loyal. It is important to keep up with trends to constantly acquire new customers. A marketing manager works to increase occupancy and use of the facility through their marketing strategies. Restaurant Manager The restaurant manager is an essential part of a hotel's functioning. The restaurant managers are responsible for creating and overseeing the food experience in a hotel. They oversee food preparation, health and hygiene compliance, and safe food handling. They work to ensure that all customers have a pleasant dining experience. Their knowledge of the inventory also plays an important role in the budgeting and marketing of the hotel amenities. Hotel management can be a very rewarding career. Obtaining a degree in hospitality management is the first step in this process. Once you are in the field, the pay will depend on the department and can range from $55,000 to over $120,000 annually. Be prepared to have high-level responsibilities such as hiring and firing, training, and finances. This is all paired with having a good set of soft skills.

What is a hotel manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Lauren Smith

A hotel manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a hotel. They contribute to positive experiences for guests, manage staff, and work to increase profitability. They handle budgeting and financial planning, marketing and promotions, and coordinate property maintenance and upkeep. A hotel managerâ€™s primary responsibilities are making sure the hotel runs smoothly, guests are satisfied, and the business is profitable.

What general advice would you give to a Hotel Manager?

Lauren Smith

Lecturer of Management & Marketing, Susquehanna University

Lauren Smith advises graduates to actively engage in a dual pursuit of entrepreneurship and traditional corporate roles, emphasizing the importance of gaining diverse experiences.

ScoreHotel ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.4

Avg. Salary $69,364

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.7

Growth Rate 18%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.19%

Asian 11.02%

Black or African American 8.46%

Hispanic or Latino 11.24%

Unknown 5.10%

White 62.99%

Gender

female 49.37%

male 50.63%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress Level

9.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.5

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Hotel Manager?

Pros

Opportunities for advancement within the hotel industry
Good salary and benefits
Ability to work with a team and develop strong leadership skills
Possibility for free or discounted stays at other hotels in the chain
Experience in other areas of the industry, including marketing, finance, and customer service

Cons

Long hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays with limited time off
High levels of stress due to demanding guests, tight deadlines, and unexpected issues
Constant need to be available and accessible, even outside of regular working hours
Pressure from the heavy responsibility of hotel operations and financial performance
High turnover rate in the industry leading to instability in staffing

Key steps to become a hotel manager

Explore hotel manager education requirements

Most common hotel manager degrees

Bachelor's

57.4 %

Associate

18.2 %

High School Diploma

10.8 %

Start to develop specific hotel manager skills

Skills	Percentages
PET	48.82%
Hotel Management	8.61%
Reservations	3.64%
Payroll	3.28%
Guest Service	2.95%

Complete relevant hotel manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New hotel managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a hotel manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real hotel manager resumes.

Research hotel manager duties and responsibilities

Achieve solid market position for emerging property, setting the stage for outstanding results encompassing ADR, occupancy, and profitability.
Open up a campground that are purchased out of bankruptcy.
Maintain Mobil and AAA standards for the arrival and departure experience.
Handle the day to day operations of a multimillion dollar RV resort.

Prepare your hotel manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your hotel manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a hotel manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Hotel Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Hotel Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Hotel Manager resume.

Apply for hotel manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a hotel manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do hotel managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Hotel Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Cons

Disciplining my team for mistakes they can prevent, such as attendance.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Cons

Long hours and calls outside of regular business hours are the norm!

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Cons

The only thing that would make my career a little better is the pay.

What is a hotel manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Hotel Manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a Hotel Manager?

Hotel Manager career paths

Key steps to become a hotel manager

Explore hotel manager education requirements

Most common hotel manager degrees

Start to develop specific hotel manager skills

Complete relevant hotel manager training and internships

Research hotel manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your hotel manager resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Hotel Manager Resume templates

Apply for hotel manager jobs

How Did You Land Your First Hotel Manager Job

Average hotel manager salary

How do hotel managers rate their job?

Hotel Manager reviews

Hotel Manager FAQs

What are careers in hotel management?

Search for hotel manager jobs