Why is Hotel Management popular as a career pathway?

Hotel management as a career has been blooming ever since the Indian economy opened up in 1991 when major hospitality chains started entering the country with partnerships with Indian business houses. Moreover, Indian industry also opened up giving rise to the international business traveller visiting India for business.

India has always been on every avid travellers itinerary. As both tourism and hotels are complementary and improvement in one affects the other and that’s precicelywhats happened in the past quarter of a century. With improvement in infrastructure such as development of airports, railways, airlines, highways, etc have opened India up to the global traveller. Apart from this the government has also taken steps to improve facilities and monuments. This in turn has boosted the morale of both home grown hospitality chains such as the Taj Group of Hotels, ITC Group of Hotels, Oberoi Hotels & Palaces, etc apart from the international entrants such as the Intercontinental Hotels Group. With an improvement in the hospitality sector and more hotels opening shop, there has been a rise in demand for skilled professionals in the sector which is the reason why students are taking interest in adapting hotel management courses in India.

Students in India have an opportunity to study on hotel management courses that are of repute and that are career oriented. Most hotel management schools have excellent placement as well as partnerships with leading domestic and international hotel chains. Therefore it is imperative that one refers to the prospectus to see the placements on offer and the companies that offer the same. Some central and state universities also offer hotel management courses however they might require some form of an entrance test as competition is high.

So how does one figure out whether a hotel management institute is of repute then? Apart from having excellent industry links, a good institute should cover the basic elements of hospitality such as housekeeping, front-desk operations, food and beverage service, sales and marketing, event management, etc. Along with this it is important for a candidate to visit the institute, meet the faculty, see the facilities on offer, speak to current students to get their opinion and then make an application to study. Also, if some kind of scholarship is required; this information should also be found out.

Benefits of Pursuing a Hotel Management Course

The travel and tourism industry is growing significantly which has resulted in an increase in demand for educated and well qualified hotel managers. Hotel managers are responsible for all the guests in a hotel whether they are staying with the hotel or maybe even visiting for a meal, it is his/her responsibility that all guests of the hotel have a pleasant stay. When thinking about pursuing a degree in hotel management or enquiring about hotel management school, one definitely asks ‘What careers will the degree or diploma prepare me for?’

Hotel management is not just concerned about the towels and bed sheets in a guests room. Hotel managers need to coordinate various aspects of the hotel such as sales, housekeeping, front desk operations, food and beverage service, etc. It is possible, that some people might have climbed the ladder of success without any formal education in hotel management. However, now with the job becoming more complex and competition becoming more cut-throat. Those with a formal education in hotel or tourism management get better opportunities.

There are many types of hotel management Courses on offer. Certificate Courses in hotel management are shorter and generally available to cover various aspects of hotel management such as food and beverage service. These can vary from three to twelve months and prepare one for entry level jobs in the hospitality industry.

Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes are also available and the duration varies from institution to institution. Bachelor’s programmes in hotel management are generally three years in duration and cover all aspects of the hospitality industry and have a substantial internship regime built in as part of the curriculum. An undergraduate degree in hotel management can include courses such as restaurant management, tourism, culinary skills, etc. Most bachelor’s degrees also include business courses such as marketing, planning, management, logistics, financial management, facilities management, etc. After completing a bachelor’s degree in hotel management, a student can take up a management position in large hotels and resorts.

A postgraduate degree or Master’s degree in hotel management can vary from one to two years and will allow a candidate to hold an executive level position for large hotel chains or other allied companies in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

What can I do after studying a Hotel Management Degree?

Travel and tourism is a burgeoning industry that offers a plethora of job opportunities. Hotels are one of the largest employers in the travel and tourism industry and offer many educational, internship and certification opportunities for professionals who want to pursue a career in the field. Hotel employees can rise to management through formal education requiring degrees in management coupled with plenty of work experience.

Students can choose a Bachelor of Hotel Management degree following which they can go on to work at an entry level management position within hotels, motels, airlines, banquets and restaurants. They usually study communication skills, general studies, English and other languages whilst taking up a business course in hotel management. A majority of hotel management schools provide hands-on experience and practical projects for their pupils. Furthermore, students can also move into business accounting, food and beverage service, sales and marketing, human resource management, etc positions after completing some amount of practicum. Pupils can further their education by either pursuing a Master’s degree in Hotel Management or an MBA in the same after gaining relevant work experience.

So what exactly does a General Manager do then one might ask? A hotel’s General Manager is responsible for every aspect of the hotel such as customer service, food quality, catering, supplies, etc. He or she also has to look after scheduling and conference planning, travel and transportation services, etc that the hotel needs to provide to its guests. Hence, the role that the manager entails is a pivotal one. Moreover, he or she is also to some extent responsible for hiring, training and supervising other members of the staff who generally report to an Assistant Manager who keeps on coordinating with the General Manager. His job description also encompasses scheduling of shifts and assigning duties to his subordinates. Reporting, negotiating, coordinating, conflict resolution, etc also come under the purview of the Assistant Manager.

So what are the benefits or working in a hotel then? Well hotel management professionals enjoy highly discounted rates in their hotels and partner entities. Even though the job entails a lot of struggle and hard work initially, once you have reached a higher position, the salary and perks are well worth it. Salaries in the sector vary from position to position. A student generally starts as an Executive Housekeeper, Front Office Manager, Food &Beverage Manager, Convention Service Manager, etc; which are primarily roles that feed into the General Manager. Salaries usually also depend on the responsibility an employee is given and bonuses can exceed twenty-five percent of the basic salary.

The initial stage will be quite hectic where one wouldn’t know how time flies and will be asked to do odd job tasks such as cleaning dishes, etc. The job will require a lot of patience, energy and excellent communication skills to tackle the most difficult situations and the most difficult customers. However, at the end of the day it will be well worth it!