What is Hotel Management?
The hospitality industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the
past decade. Demand for trained manpower in this industry
is immense. Star hotels require trained staff for
the following departments:
Food
and Beverage (F&B)
Housekeeping
Accounting
Marketing
Recreation
Computer Applications
Financial
Management
Engineering
Maintenance
Security
Fire
Fighting
Public
Relations
Personal Factor
Being a service industry, having the right attitude is most
important. The employees must have an outgoing and pleasant personality,
capacity for hard work and a liking for interacting with people.
The ability to keep the situation under control during any crisis,
discipline, commitment and dedication is a must.
The Prospects
Besides working in hotels, hotel management diploma/degree
holders have the following options:
Restaurant
Management/Fast Food Joint Management
Club
Management/Recreation & Health Centre Management
Cruise Ship Hotel Management
Hospital Administration and Catering
Institutional and Industrial Catering
Airline Catering and Cabin Services
Manufacturers and Suppliers of Hotel and Restaurant Equipment and Services
Hotel and Catering Institutes
Hotel and Tourism Associations
Catering Departments in banks and insurance houses
With government owned catering departments, for example railway, armed forces, ministerial conventions, etc.
In food, confectionery, beverage production industries.
Jobs in Hotel Management The Managers
Hotel managers are responsible for the efficient and profitable
operation of their establishments. The General Manager controls
the finances, establishment norms to be followed by the staff
while providing their services to the guests, housekeeping, food
quality, decor and interiors. Assistant Managers supervise the
day-to-day operations of their departments. Large hotels have
Resident Managers to resolve problems round the clock. The Department
Managers work under the supervision and guidance of
the top management.
The Front Office
The first people to welcome guests in a hotel are the personnel
in the front office. The Front Office Manager supervises
the work of the receptionists, information clerk, reservation
clerk and other service personnel like bell captain, bell boy
and doorman. The Bell Boy assists the guests
with the baggage to check in to the room. The Bell Captain supervises
the work of bell boys. The Information Clerk delivers
the telephone messages to the guests through the Bell Captain.
F&B (Food and Beverage) This department includes:
Culinary
Unit
Steward
Department
Food
Service Department
Restaurant and Food Service
Managers are responsible for stocks of tableware, linens,
paper, supplies furniture, and fixtures cleaning. They arrange
for equipment maintenance and repairs. They also have to maintain
records of hours and wages of employees, payrolls, and taxes,
etc. Banquet Managers are in-charge of catering
assignments.
Housekeeping
A hotel requires maintenance on a very large scale. Hotels have a house
keeping department to look after cleanliness in rooms, lounges, lobby, restaurant,
dining halls, parks etc. This department functions under the supervision of
the Executive Housekeeper.
Executive Housekeepers are responsible for ensuring that guest rooms, meeting and banquet rooms and public areas are clean, orderly and well maintained. They train, schedule and supervise the work of housekeepers, inspect rooms and order for the necessary supplies. Housekeeping is a round the clock job .This department works in shifts.
Marketing Department
Today marketing of services is a major aspect of hotel management. Sales and marketing division works to identify the needs of prospective customers, develop stay packages to suit their needs and sell the services, which have been developed.
